The Atlanta Braves will turn to rookie Spencer Schwellenbach to continue their hot streak on Friday when they face the visiting Miami Marlins in the second game of their four-game series. Schwellenbach threw seven scoreless innings against the host New York Mets on Saturday to end the Braves’ six-game losing streak. That game started Atlanta’s current 5-1 run, including the 4-2 win over the Marlins on Thursday.
Atlanta has cut Philadelphia’s lead in the National League East to six games. Philadelphia had a 10-game lead on July 5. Schwellenbach (4-5, 4.06 ERA) will be opposed by fellow rookie Valente Bellozo (0-1, 4.50) in a battle of right-handers. Schwellenbach was recalled from Double-A Mississippi in May and has become a fixture in the team’s starting rotation. He will be making his 11th start of the season after setting a career high with 11 strikeouts in his last start. Schwellenbach has allowed one or fewer runs in three of his last four starts.
We had lost, what, six in a row,” Schwellenbach said of the Braves heading into his previous start. “It was needed more than ever, and I kind of dug a little deeper because we needed that.” Catcher Sean Murphy said, “Obviously it was his best game of the year. It feels like he’s improved every time out. I don’t say that lightly. I feel like he’s gotten more comfortable and we’ve kind of narrowed it in on what we want to do with him.” Schwellenbach has never faced the Marlins.
