ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Braves (6-4) are looking to finish their early West Coast trip strong against the Los Angeles Angels (5-5) after splitting the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks over the weekend. <\/p>\n
The Braves won the first two games of the series against the Diamondbacks, but lost the last two; Sunday\u2019s game was a heartbreaking loss in extra innings. <\/p>\n
The series against the Angels is the finale of a 13-day gauntlet in which the Braves did not have a single day off. <\/p>\n
The Angels will be without superstar centerfielder Mike Trout, who is day-to-day after taking a pitch to the hand during the team\u2019s series against the Seattle Mariners. <\/p>\n
Pitching probables<\/p>\n
Monday, 9:38 p.m. – LHP Chris Sale vs. RHP Jos\u00e9 Soriano<\/p>\n
Tuesday, 9:38 p.m. – RHP Reynaldo L\u00f3pez vs. LHP Yusei Kikuchi<\/p>\n
Wednesday, 4:07 p.m. – RHP Grant Holmes vs. LHP Reid Detmers<\/p>\n
Chris Sale taking the bump has to come as a relief to manager Walt Weiss. Sale, L\u00f3pez and Holmes are just about the only certainties on the Braves\u2019 pitching staff at the moment; injuries to Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider and Hurston Waldrep have depleted the Braves\u2019 starting rotation beyond Sale, L\u00f3pez and Holmes beat that shouldn\u2019t be a concern during this series. <\/p>\n
Knock on wood. <\/p>\n
Hitters to watch<\/p>\n
Braves: It\u2019s early days, but catcher Drake Baldwin is avoiding the sophomore slump and then some. The 25-year-old is hitting .300 and leads the Braves in runs, RBI and home runs. His 186 OPS+ is also tops among qualified hitters. <\/p>\n
Despite going hitless in his first 10 at-bats, expect to see Jonah Heim against lefties Detmers and Kikuchi. One hopes that the switch-hitter finally figures it out in Anaheim. <\/p>\n
Angels: With Trout injured, the job of leading the Angels offense falls to shortstop Zach Neto. Neto is more than up to the task, leading the team in slugging, OPS+ and home runs. He\u2019s well on his to his third-straight multi-WAR season. <\/p>\n
Jo Adell is considered less a hitter to watch than a defensive wizard to watch. The former top prospect put on a show over the weekend against the Mariners, robbing three home runs in one game. <\/p>\n
How to watch Braves on Gray<\/p>\n
The Braves and Gray Media will simulcast 25 games for free, over-the-air to fans across Braves Country through Braves on Gray<\/a> local television stations, reaching 26 markets throughout the Southeast.<\/p>\n