This weekend, the Boston Red Sox head to Atlanta to face the only team in baseball with 30 wins already on the board. With a nickname like "Batlanta," it's clear the Braves' bats are red-hot—but as baseball always reminds us, anything can happen in a three-game set. The Red Sox are coming off a rough stretch, sitting at 8-8 under interim manager Chad Tracy after Alex Cora was let go at 10-17. Meanwhile, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is likely fielding calls about trade chips like Aroldis Chapman, Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, and Garrett Whitlock—players who could help contending teams right now.
Despite the challenges, Boston does have some pitching that could keep them competitive. Friday night features Connelly Early on the mound against Atlanta's Spencer Strider. Early is fresh off a dominant outing against Tampa Bay, tossing 7.0 scoreless innings in the Red Sox's lone win over the AL East leaders. Strider, who started the season on the IL, had a rocky debut in Colorado but bounced back by shutting down the Dodgers for 6.0 innings, allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out eight. If he's still shaking off rust, Early and the Sox might have an opening.
Saturday's matchup could be a battle of patience versus power. Payton Tolle, nicknamed "Mass Pike," has been solid on five or more days of rest, delivering two gems and one decent start. But on short rest, he's struggled with command, issuing four walks. The Braves' offense ranks 23rd in walks drawn but 24th in strikeouts, which could mean a lot of balls in play—and a busy day for Boston's defense. On the other side, Bryce Elder brings a right-handed arsenal with 53 strikeouts in 54.2 innings, though he's walked 20 batters over his last two starts. His reverse splits make him tough on lefties, who are hitting just .130 against him, while righties fare slightly better at .268. That could make for some tricky lineup decisions for Tracy.
Sunday's series finale is a bit of a question mark. Brayan Bello pitched on Tuesday, so he might be the TBD after an opener—or the Red Sox could get creative. One thing's for sure: Chris Sale won't be taking the mound for Atlanta, so at least one of their aces will miss the weekend. That's a small break for a Boston team that's looking to turn things around. Whether they can pull off a sweep or just salvage a win, this series at Truist Park is sure to be a test of grit and game-planning.