Braves vs Pirates chat and discussion: Spencer Strider vs Braxton Ashcraft
Article excerpt
The Atlanta Braves face the Pittsburgh Pirates with ace Spencer Strider on the mound against Braxton Ashcraft. Strider, one of baseball's most dominant pitchers, takes the ball as Atlanta looks to extend its winning streak and capture another series victory. The matchup pits the Braves' rotation strength against the Pirates' young starter in what shapes up as a pivotal contest in the National League East race.
ATLANTA, GA - JUNE 04: Spencer Strider (99) of the Atlanta Braves in the dugout during the Thursday evening MLB game between the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays on June 4, 2026 at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Atlanta Braves took game one of the series against the surprisingly good Pittsburg Pirates last night and look to take the series today.
Braxton Ashcraft has been one of the key reasons the Pirates have a winning record. Not only does he have a 2.77 ERA, but he has an ERA of 1.97 in away games this season. The Braves are going to have have their work cut out for them. Ashcraft’s underlying metrics shows that his output has been no fluke with an expected ERA (xERA) of 2.78.
Spencer Strider struggled a bit in his last outing giving up three earned runs in 5.0 innings, but he did have eight strikeouts to only two walks. If he can limit the hits today, it would go a long way towards a win for the Braves.
This game may come down to the bullpens. Follow along in the comments below.
First pitch is at 4:10 EDT.
Lineup
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