There’s still work to do after last night’s tasteful champagne toast to celebrate a return to the postseason. Walt Weiss, no stranger to tinkering with a lineup formula, has maybe found what he likes most to face RHPs. He will run with the exact same lineup from last night’s 6-2 win versus the Astros, where three two-run homers to the Crawford Boxes in left field secured the series opener.
Designated hitter Drake Baldwin leads off, followed by Ronald Acuña Jr. playing right field and aiming for home run number 20 on the season. Hitting third again, Matt Olson’s 3-for-5 evening with a home run yesterday was a sight for sore eyes. His lefty bestie Michael Harris II (with his own 3-for-5 night with a homer night) will hit cleanup and patrol center field. Houston’s beloved Mauricio Dubón will play shortstop and hit fifth. Ozzie Albies is penciled in to hit sixth and play second base. Left fielder Mike Yastrzemski, third baseman Austin Riley, and catcher Sean Murphy round out the bottom of Atlanta’s order.
The lineup for Houston has the same 1-4 as last night: shortstop Jeremy Pena, DH Yordan Alvarez, third baseman Isaac Paredes, and second baseman Jose Altuve. Catcher Yainer Diaz gets the start today in place of Christian Vázquez and will hit fifth and catch for starter Hayden Wesneski. Center fielder Daulton Varsho drops a spot to sixth, followed by first baseman Christian Walker. Cam Smith gets the start today in right field, and left fielder LaMonte Wade Jr. will once again bat ninth.
The Braves are looking to score early and often / avoid seeing Josh Hader in order to secure a series win at Daikin Park tonight. First pitch is at 7:10 pm ET.
