The Atlanta Braves conclude a short two-game interleague series on the road Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals. Atlanta was off Monday and the Braves lost Sunday 4-1 to the San Francisco Giants. Dallas Keuchel absorbed the loss and is 8-7. Braves slugger Freddie Freeman has had right elbow pain and did not accompany the Braves to Kansas City and will rejoin the team on Thursday.
The Royals had the day off Monday and Kansas City lost 12-8 Sunday to the Minnesota Twins. Whit Merrifield became the eighth player for the Royals to have 200 hits in the same season. Royals’ shortstop Adalberto Mondesi left the game during the first inning with a shoulder injury when diving to stop a ground ball and his status for Wednesday’s game has been listed as questionable.
Freddie Freeman leads Atlanta with a .296 batting average and RBIs with 121. Ozzie Albies leads in hits with 183 and Ronald Acuna Jr. in home runs with 41. Atlanta hitters are averaging .259 at the plate, while opposing batters are averaging .256. On Wednesday, the Braves will send Mike Soroka to the mound. The right-hander is 13-4 with an ERA of 2.60, 135 Ks and 39 BBs.
Whit Merrifield leads Kansas City with a .302 batting average and in hits with 200. Jorge Soler leads KC in home runs with 45 and in RBIs with 112. Kansas City is averaging .245, while opposing hitters are averaging .273. On Wednesday, the Royals will send Mike Montgomery to the mound. The lefthander is 3-9 with an ERA of 5.00, 65 Ks and 31 BBs.
