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Reuters
The Atlanta Braves will take a three-game losing streak into the game for the first time this season as they start a two-game series away against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night.
Atlanta dropped the final three games of a five-game road series against the New York Mets last weekend, dropping 6 1/2 games to the Mets for the National League East lead.
But there is also much optimism.
The Braves are comfortably leading the NL Wildcard standings, 18 games ahead of .500 (64-46).
Of course, last season ended with a World Series title.
Braves manager Brian Snicker experienced some difficulties midway through last season, but he recognizes there will be more this time around.
After the 5-2 loss to the Mets on Sunday, Snicker said, "We knew we had to get through another tough period before this thing was over. We got out of it earlier. and we're out of it again."
The Braves try to stop the skid behind veteran right-hander Charlie Morton.
Morton (5-5, 4.09 ERA) has won only one in his last 10 games, but against the Sox he's 7-1 in 12 games and has an ERA. he is 3.72.
The Red Sox are about to get back on track after seeing playoff hopes dwindle over the past six weeks.
They went 3-of-4 against the Kansas City Royals over the weekend, and he went 4-of-5 overall.
In June, he went 19-4, making them his 12-25, the last since the Red Sox crossed .500 in his 11 games. 5 games behind the AL wildcard spot.
"You can't wait for something to happen. We have to get out there and get it," said Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. rice field. The Red Sox traded last week when his biggest deadline move was to send catcher Christian Vazquez to the Astros, where he leads the AL West in Houston. I didn't show that I was willing to win even if I paid.
Playing Jalen Duran in center field is another decision that doesn't pay dividends.
Duran struggled again on Sunday, making several defensive mistakes that helped Kansas City clinch his 13-5 victory. Duran's batting average also plummeted from .329 on July 6 to .227 today.
"He's our center fielder right now. We trust him," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said after Sunday's loss. "This is part of what we're trying to achieve, and we're going to keep rolling with him." Duran, who began his league career at second base in the minors, The major said it was difficult for him to adjust to a new position at his level in the league.
"At the big league level, everything becomes more difficult to do," Duran said. "I'm just learning my craft, working every day, coming here, breaking my ass, doing what I can."
Gold Glove in Boston, 2018 Award-winning Jackie Bradley Jr. was released by the team on Thursday. increase. He's looking for his first win since June 26, but against Atlanta he's appeared in 10 games, eight games where he's 5-0. with a 2.13 ERA.
– Field Level Media
