Spencer Sturdear will take another step in its return from injuries when Atlanta Braves hosted Erizona Diamondback in a three-game series opener on Tuesday.
A return to the form for Sturdear will be given a welcome news for Braves, who lost their last four series and have left eight of their last 11. Arizona is also struggling, losing nine out of his last 11, but ended the four-game losing streak on Sunday.
The matchup has a pair of right hand-Stiner (0-3, 4.50) and Erizona’s Zack Gallen (3-7, 5.54). When the teams met at Phoenix in April, Braves won two out of three matches.
The return of the Sturdear with UCL surgery has been troublesome. He started his season on 16 April and looked good in five innings, but stressed his right hamstrring while playing a catch before his next start and was sheltered for another month. In 2023, the 20-game winner, he fought against the citizens of Washington on 20 May, but on Wednesday, Philadelphia looked better against Philos, when he allowed one run in 4 2/3 innings and taunted seven.
“I think you have become honest by yourself and you have patience, but you have some urgency,” said Sturdear. “I have said earlier, I am not trying to get back.” I think it is a current focus when it is the best version of itself tomorrow and next week.
Gallon has also dealt with issues this year. He has struggled with control, walking 32 batsmen in 66 2/3 innings. In his breakout year of 2023, he passed only 47 in 210 innings. Their strike numbers (66) have also been reduced.
Galen has lost three consecutive and lost to Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday when he allowed six runs (five earned) in five innings. More than four of its last four, 2023 17-game winners with 0.02 ERA are 0-3, 11 walks and 17 strikeouts 21 1/3 innings.
“I think it is still a third of (through the weather),” Galen said. “The season is still not over, but the time is tick.”
On 25 April, Galen lost to Braves when he conceded three runs in five innings. Six career begins against Atlanta, Gallen 3.50 with 2–2 with ERA.
Arizona also has other pitching issues. Ace Corbin Burns, who received a contract of six years, $ 210 million in Offsen, had to leave Sunday’s game at the top of the fifth innings after feeling tight in his elbow. He stayed in Phoenix on Monday for MRI. Burns was not determined to appear in the series against Braves.
Burns tried to pitch through tightness, but after facing a third batsman, hinted to a trainer and left the game.
“It just reached the point where the tightness was very high,” Burns said. “It is not felt that we need to push any further, so hope we have caught it early. Hopefully it is not bad, but we will see.”
Manager Tori Lovulo called it a “intestine punch”, but said, “If this is the worst situation, we have people who are ready to step into and we are very capable of putting people there to help win the baseball game.”
-Bield level media
