<img alt="Atlanta Braves v New York Yankees" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZNjo9Cok2qqUJ9lZYWSUx6T4yrY=/48x0:5568x3680/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73435217/2159100106.0.jpg">
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Max Fried and Paul Skenes will duel it out in what should be an extremely high-end pitching matchup Max Fried and Paul Skenes will duel it out in what should be an extremely high-end pitching matchup. Atlanta can clinch a series win with a victory today, but face a formidable pitcher on the mound, in 2023’s number 1 overall pick.
Skenes has absolutely lived up to the hype so far in his rookie season. The huge righty has an ERA, xERA, xFIP, and FIP all in the 2’s through 46.1 major league innings with nearly 12 K/9 and below 2 BB/9. The headliner pitch with Skenes is the upper 90s fastball, but he also features an insane mid-90s split-finger pitch that is sometimes referred to as a “splinker” (splitter/sinker), as well as good curveballs and sliders. His fastball (40%) and splinker (30%) make up roughly 70% of his pitches, while his breaking balls make up the rest, with a few more sliders than curves. He hasn’t faced many great offenses so far, but when he did face the Dodgers, he had his worst start (although 5.0 innings with 3 earned runs on 2 homers is far from awful). We’ll see what kind of challenge the Braves’ offense can present as it has been better of late, but is still missing key pieces and has a couple players in extended slumps like Adam Duvall and Orlando Arcia.
Fried is having a spectacular year after two uncharacteristically awful starts to begin the season, in what is likely to be his final year in Atlanta. Max has consistently been one of the best pitchers in the game since he really took the reigns at the front of Atlanta’s rotation in 2020. His strikeouts are down to what would be a slight career low, but his diverse arsenal of quality pitches from the left side make it extremely difficult for opposing hitters to really get a hold of his offerings. He has a 3.25 xFIP on the season that is pretty close to his other metrics and that is including his horrid first two starts. He is giving Atlanta what is likely a grand finale and earning himself a lot of money in the process this season.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, June 29, 4:10 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
TV: Bally Sports Southeast
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM
<img alt="Atlanta Braves v New York Yankees" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZNjo9Cok2qqUJ9lZYWSUx6T4yrY=/48x0:5568x3680/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73435217/2159100106.0.jpg">
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Max Fried and Paul Skenes will duel it out in what should be an extremely high-end pitching matchup Max Fried and Paul Skenes will duel it out in what should be an extremely high-end pitching matchup. Atlanta can clinch a series win with a victory today, but face a formidable pitcher on the mound, in 2023’s number 1 overall pick.
Skenes has absolutely lived up to the hype so far in his rookie season. The huge righty has an ERA, xERA, xFIP, and FIP all in the 2’s through 46.1 major league innings with nearly 12 K/9 and below 2 BB/9. The headliner pitch with Skenes is the upper 90s fastball, but he also features an insane mid-90s split-finger pitch that is sometimes referred to as a “splinker” (splitter/sinker), as well as good curveballs and sliders. His fastball (40%) and splinker (30%) make up roughly 70% of his pitches, while his breaking balls make up the rest, with a few more sliders than curves. He hasn’t faced many great offenses so far, but when he did face the Dodgers, he had his worst start (although 5.0 innings with 3 earned runs on 2 homers is far from awful). We’ll see what kind of challenge the Braves’ offense can present as it has been better of late, but is still missing key pieces and has a couple players in extended slumps like Adam Duvall and Orlando Arcia.
Fried is having a spectacular year after two uncharacteristically awful starts to begin the season, in what is likely to be his final year in Atlanta. Max has consistently been one of the best pitchers in the game since he really took the reigns at the front of Atlanta’s rotation in 2020. His strikeouts are down to what would be a slight career low, but his diverse arsenal of quality pitches from the left side make it extremely difficult for opposing hitters to really get a hold of his offerings. He has a 3.25 xFIP on the season that is pretty close to his other metrics and that is including his horrid first two starts. He is giving Atlanta what is likely a grand finale and earning himself a lot of money in the process this season.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Saturday, June 29, 4:10 p.m. ET
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, Georgia
TV: Bally Sports Southeast
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM
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