TGIF, folks. How are we feeling after that series sweep?
For most enjoyers of the sport, those three games were hailed as “good baseball.” Now that we’re on the other side of it, I agree, but it was a very stressful three nights. Brandon Gaudin wasn’t lying when he called it “a taste of October” – I forgot what that particular flavor of anxiety was like.
But here we are. The 79-55 Atlanta Braves will welcome two other NL West teams to Truist Park over the next four days. For this next three-game set,
the Dodger blues in the opposing dugout will give way to the grays and purples of the Colorado Rockies.
Victims of being swept by the Braves themselves back in May, the Rockies come to our place 30 games under .500 (52-82) with Purple Row readers pondering how/if they’ll avoid another 100 loss season.
Big flashing warning sign for the 2026 Braves, who have played winning teams tough with a 37-23 record. But for teams we should beat… not quite as successful. While getting swept in Minnesota feels fainter now, it certainly still lingers.
The Braves are looking to keep the good vibes rolling and extend their win streak to five behind Grant Holmes (8-5, 3.64 ERA). Holmes has gone six innings in three of his four outings in August, and each were quality starts versus the Marlins, Yankees, and Chicago White Sox. The one blow-up was the 3.2 innings and six earned runs against the Diamondbacks here at home on August 15. But he’s rocking a 2.49 ERA on the month. Another quality start could help his case to stay in the rotation with Reynaldo López set to return soon. If not? For the hundredth time this season… get ready to learn bullpen, buddy.
Speaking of the bullpen, ours should be fresh due to the heroics of Chris Sale last night.
The majority of Colorado’s hitters have seen Holmes, with the exception of Zac Veen, Cole Carrigg, and Brett Sullivan. Hunter Goodman and Connor Norby lead the team with six total ABs. Goodman and Troy Johnston each have a double off him, and Mickey Moniak has the lone home run.
The Braves will face yet another Japanese starting pitcher. Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (12-7, 4.69 ERA), was teammates with Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Team Japan at the World Baseball Classic. He’s a new face for the Braves as they’d never faced him in his debut season in 2025 as a Baltimore Oriole. Prior to that, he was an ace for twelve seasons with the Yomiuri Giants.
In his seven-pitch arsenal, he leads with the split-finger, followed closely by the four seamer and sinker. He’ll also mix in a cutter, sweeper, slider, and occasional curveball. The big red bar on his Baseball Savant page? His walk rate is in the top 7% of MLB. But he’s been hard-hit in his last two outings: in eight innings (5.0 vs. LA, 3.0 vs. CLE), he was tagged for 16 hits and 12 runs (11 earned). It’d be nice if the Braves could build on the offensive signs of life we’d seen in the Dodgers series.
Lane Thomas and Dominic Smith are the only Braves with any experience against Sugano. Dom is hitless with a K in two ABs, and Thomas is 1-for-6.
It’s not another high-octane battle between two first-place teams for a bye, but win number 80 on the season and a four-game win streak are at stake. So play them just as tough, Braves, please and thank you.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Friday, August 28, 7:15 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: BravesVision
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM
