Braves double down on Wednesday’s lineup as they go for sweep

Drake Baldwin will start back-to-back games for the first time since June 24-25

Literally no changes from yesterday for the Braves lineup-wise, the notable thing here is Drake Baldwin garnering a second consecutive start for the first time since June 24-25 against the Padres:

The Braves’ lineup usage is not that varied — through 72 games they’ve used 51 different lineups. This lineup will be a threepeat, as they used it in the 4-1 win over the Rockies.

This cadre has a limited set of experience against Clay Holmes — six players (not Matt Olson, Drake Baldwin, or Nick Allen), with Alex Verdugo leading the charge with 9 PAs. The net damage is a .364 wOBA and .355 xwOBA in an overwhelming(ly small) 22 PAs, most coming a while ago (except Austin Riley, who struck out against Holmes last year).

The Mets, well, they are ever-changing. Through 74 games, they’ve used 69 different lineups already, and haven’t repeated a batting order more than twice. True to form, it’s yet another new lineup for them tonight:

You’re familiar with most of these guys at this point, and while the top four are the same as in Tuesday’s game, Tyrone Taylor moves up to seventh and Starling Marte also appears as the DH in this one. All but Taylor and Ronny Mauricio have faced Strider before, and there’s a lot more familiarity here than with the Braves and Holmes. Brandon Nimmo (.655 wOBA, .451 xwOBA) has tormented Strider over 19 PAs; Juan Soto and Marte have also hit him well. In aggregate, we’re talking a .419 wOBA and .347 xwOBA in 89 combined PAs, including two homers from Nimmo, one from Pete Alonso, and one from Francisco Alvarez. So, Strider may have his work cut out for him in multiple ways, especially considering that this Mets lineup isn’t just “lineup wot troubles Strider” but has MLB’s second-highest xwOBA this season.