To say that the Pittsburgh Pirates would like to forget their three game sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers would be an understatement. The Pirates will look to put that series behind them as they take on the Atlanta Braves in a three game set, the last time the Pirates will ever play at historic Turner Field in Atlanta.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (52-51) currently sit 11 games back in the National League Central division and 3.5 games back in the Wild Card race. After a 10 run output Wednesday night against the Seattle Mariners, the Bucs were unable to score more than three runs in each game against the Brewers and were outscored 12-6.
The Atlanta Braves (37-68) sit the NL East basement with the worst record in baseball. They are 24.5 games back in the division race and are building for the future. However, they do still have quality talent up and down their lineup and throughout their pitching staff.
One thing the Pirates have learned in the past three days is that no team, even ones at the bottom of their respective divisions, should be underestimated. The Pirates struggled against a Brewers team that sits 10 games under the .500 mark and now turn to another struggling ball club.
This particular series provides a ton of different storylines and matchups. The Braves have a ton of young talent as they try to rebuild, but they also have an abundance of experienced veterans as well. These Braves veterans are bound to come into play as they match up against the Pirates starters.
3.) Gerrit Cole vs Freddie Freeman
Despite the Braves being in rebuild mode, Freddie Freeman has been their undisputed veteran leader. Through the ups and the downs, Freeman remains a consistent bat within the Braves lineup.
This season, Freeman is hitting .284 with 18 home runs and 42 RBIs in 104 games. Freeman has hit 18 homers in each of his last two seasons and is five shy of tying his career high with 23 home runs set in both 2012 and 2013.
Freeman, who hit .346 in the month of June, had a stellar month of July, hitting .280 with five home runs and 13 RBIs. The 26-year old first baseman has also been stellar in his last seven games, hitting .414 with one home run and seven RBIs in that span.
When fans go to the ballpark, they love to see matchups between two of the best players on each team. Tonight, Gerrit Cole will give fans that opportunity as he faces Freeman and the Braves.
Cole is coming off of his first career complete game as he allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out six without allowing a walk against the Mariners. Despite a less than stellar start against the Washington Nationals in his first start back from a stint on the disabled list, Cole has picked it up in his last two starts. Since that start in DC, Cole has allowed two earned runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out 13 in 15 innings.
Cole, who is 6-6 with a 2.78 ERA in 15 starts this season, is fairly familiar with Freeman as they have faced each other on a few occasions, but not since last season. In his career against Cole, Freeman is 2-for-8 (.250) with one double, one RBI, one walk and two strikeouts.
This is a small sample size, but both of these players are capable of beating each other. This is what makes a matchup like this so intriguing. Fans want to see the best players go up against one another and that is what fans are going to get.
2.) Jeff Locke vs Nick Markakis
Yes, Jeff Locke is still a Pirate. He is also starting tomorrow against his former team. (I can hear the simultaneous sighs as you all read those two sentences).
It has been no surprise that Locke has had his struggles this season. The 28-year old is 8-6 with a 5.43 ERA in 20 appearances (18 starts). Despite showing glimpses of turning things around, Locke has remained an inconsistent piece of the pitching puzzle. He had a stint in the bullpen and returns to make yet another start against the worst team in baseball.
Despite having the worst record in the game, the Braves have hit Locke well this season, compiling a .273 team batting average and blasting three home runs. Jeff Franceour has been a thorn in Locke’s side, going 3-for-3 against him this season with one home run and a double.
This particular matchup to watch doesn’t involve Franceour, who actually went 0-for-2 with a walk against Locke in 2015.
This matchup involves a player who has struggled against the southpaw throughout his career and that player is Nick Markakis.
Markakis is hitting .265 this season with five home runs and 52 RBIs in 103 games. The 32-year old still remains a consistent run producer and his hitting .333 with five RBIs and a .438 On-Base Percentage in his last 15 games.
Despite this success, Markakis hasn’t been able to figure out the mystery behind Locke.
Markakis is 1-for-9 in his career against Locke with one RBI and two strikeouts. Markakis had one hit in six at-bats against Locke last season and is hitless in three at-bats this season.
1.) Ryan Vogelsong vs Matt Kemp
For the first time since May 23, Ryan Vogelsong will make a start for the Pirates. Vogelsong has been on the disabled list recovering from facial injuries sustained when he was hit by a pitch while hitting against Colorado Rockies pitcher Jordan Lyles.
Sunday, Vogelsong will be making his third start of the season and 13th total appearance. This season, Vogelsong is 1-1 with a 3.74 ERA in 12 appearances.
With the abundance of trade deadline moves, Vogelsong may fit into the starting rotation mix once again.
As Vogelsong gets set to return to the diamond, a key veteran is set to make his Braves debut during this series. One of Atlanta’s key deadline deals involved trading Hector Olivera to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Matt Kemp, a guy whose contract was being dumped by the Padres.
Kemp has had a stellar year in 2016, hitting .262 with 23 home runs and 69 RBIs in 100 games. He has been a consistent threat in San Diego’s lineup all season long and will now look to do the same in Atlanta.
Kemp, who is hitting .345 in his last seven games, has a ton of experience going up against Vogelsong. In fact, out of all the pitchers Kemp has faced in his major league career, he has the eighth most at-bats against Vogelsong.
In his career against the Pirates hurler, Kemp is 12-for-39 (.308) with one home run, seven RBIs, two doubles, one triple, four walks and six strikeouts.
On a young team, Kemp brings in a ton of leadership. In this series, he will also bring a ton of experience, especially against a guy like Vogelsong. Be sure to keep an eye on this matchup as Kemp looks to continue his success against the Pirates veteran.
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