Braves open 3-game series at home against Giants
ATLANTA (AP) - Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Braves are poised to break out the bubbly, with a magic number of one to clinch their second straight NL East title. They can celebrate when Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 4.80 ERA) starts at SunTrust Park against San Francisco. A win by Atlanta or a loss by second-place Washington at Miami will seal it.
At 21, Acuña will be able to take part in a champagne toast. The star outfielder with 40 home runs wasn't yet of legal age when the Braves won the division a year ago.
"They wouldn't let me drink because I was a minor," Acuña recalled, breaking into a big smile. "This year, it's going to be different. I'm looking forward to it."
San Francisco Giants (74-79, third in the NL West) vs. Atlanta Braves (94-60, first in the NL East)
Atlanta; Friday, 7 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Tyler Beede (5-9, 5.02 ERA) Braves: Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 4.80 ERA)
LINE: Braves -197; over/under is 9 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta and San Francisco are set to begin a three-game series.
The Braves are 48-30 on their home turf. Atlanta ranks eighth in the league in hitting with a .258 batting average, Freddie Freeman leads the team with an average of .298.
The Giants are 41-37 in road games. San Francisco hitters have posted a team on-base percentage of .301 this season, led by Brandon Belt with a mark of .338.
TOP PERFORMERS: Freeman leads the Braves with 119 RBIs and is batting .298. Ozzie Albies is 16-for-44 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and six RBIs over the last 10 games for Atlanta.
Kevin Pillar leads the Giants with 60 extra base hits and is slugging .441. Stephen Vogt is 6-for-30 with two doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs over the last 10 games for San Francisco.
LAST 10 GAMES: Braves: 5-5, .249 batting average, 3.93 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs
Giants: 5-5, .246 batting average, 3.41 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs
Braves Injuries: Jacob Webb: (elbow), A.J. Minter: (shoulder), Ender Inciarte: (hamstring), Charlie Culberson: (face), Johan Camargo: (shin), Alex Jackson: (knee).
Giants Injuries: Tony Watson: (wrist), Will Smith: (back), Reyes Moronta: (shoulder), Trevor Gott: (elbow), Steven Duggar: (shoulder), Pablo Sandoval: (elbow), Zach Green: (hip).