d’Arnaud and Kelenic back in lineup as Braves look to avoid sweep from Orioles

The Braves are hoping to end their worst losing streak since 2017 as Reynaldo López takes the mound.

As the Atlanta Braves are set to face the Baltimore Orioles for the final game of a three-game set, the lineups have become less and less predictable as Brian Snitker has been shaking things up to try and get a spark going.

The Braves have scored a combine two runs in the past two games against the Orioles. So, needless to say, the Braves could use a high scoring game to up their spirits, along with the fans. The good news is that in the past, the Braves’ lineup has done well against their opposing SP, Cole Irvin. The bad news is that the offensive drop-off from last year is from largely the same lineup.

The last time Irvin faced the Braves, it was in 2022 when he was with Oakland. He gave up nine earned runs in 4.2 innings pitched. That was obviously some time ago, but the Braves offensive core in 2022 was largely the same.

Jarred Kelenic was not on the Braves in 2022, but he does share the most at-bats on the team against Irvin with Austin Riley at nine. He has arguably had the most success as well with a .444 average against him. However, Kelenic has not faced him since September 27^th, 2021. Matt Olson has also had success against Irvin in his limited action. He has a .400 average, 1.500 OPS, and one HR in five at-bats against his former teammate. All-in-all, there are six Braves that have a career OPS north of 1.000 against Irvin.

d’Arnaud is getting the start over Murphy today batting sixth, and Kelenic is back in his starting role batting eighth

As far as Reynaldo López goes, he has arguably had better success against his opponent. Both Ryan O’Hearn and James McCann have been seen López quite a bit with seventeen and sixteen at-bats respectively. O’Hearn has had extended success with a .353 average, and 1.182 OPS with two HRs. McCann has also had success with a .438 average and 1.063 OPS. Fortunately for López, McCann is not in the lineup today.

Outside of these two, no other hitter on the Orioles has more than five at-bats against him. Rutschman is 2-2 with four RBI against López, and Santander is 1-1 with a double. But, other than the four mentioned players, no other player that has faced him before that is in the lineup has an OPS above .533 (Cedric Mullins) against him. Henderson and Mateo are all hitless against him, and Westburg, Cowser, and Stowers have never faced him.

First pitch is at 1:05 ET.