July 14, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale (51) pitches during the first inning of the game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports The visiting Atlanta Braves will turn to ace left-hander Chris Sale when they take on the Milwaukee Brewers in the deciding game of a three-game series on Wednesday afternoon.
Sale (13-3, 2.68 ERA), the major league wins leader, will face right-hander Freddy Peralta (6-6, 3.94), who serves as a tight end. Milwaukee's No. 1 starter has been inconsistent.
The Braves evened the series at 5-1 on Tuesday night. Bryce Elder, recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett earlier in the day, allowed one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven and walking one.
Jarred Kelenic, of nearby Waukesha, Wis., celebrated his return with a homer and a double, while Austin Riley had four hits for the win. Atlanta's 14-hit offense set the stage.
Sale's ERA is the lowest in the National League, and he has bounced back from a slight slump in June. He won seven consecutive starts with a 1.17 ERA from April 19 to May 26, and went 2-2 with an ERA in five games in June. The rate is 4.20. He is 3-0 with a 2.28 ERA in four starts this month.
Sale allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings in his most recent outing but held a no-decision in the Braves' 10-inning 3-2 loss to the New York Mets on Thursday. .
The loss was the fifth in the Warriors' season-high six-game losing streak. Atlanta has bounced back, winning three of its past four games to take a half-game lead in contention for an NFC wild-card spot.
“You have to hit the ground running at a certain time,” Sale told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution after Thursday's start. “Just hoping this happens sooner rather than later.”
Sale has faced the Brewers only twice in his career, the last time in 2015. It was done while he was playing for the Chicago White Sox.
Atlanta shortstop Orlando Arcia extended his hitting streak to 10 games on Tuesday with a double and a single. During that time, he hit .364 (12-for-33) with two home runs and five RBIs.
Peralta struggled in his last outing, allowing five runs (3 ERA) on six hits in 5 1/3 innings in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Miami Marlins. point) . In 97 games, he walked five and struck out four.
“I should have made better pitches,” Peralta said after the game. “It's hard to give up runs in the first or second inning because you know your job is to keep the game as close as possible for as long as possible. That was the mentality after that and I felt good because I was able to do that today.
Peralta is 3-6 with a 4.24 ERA in his last 15 games. He is 0-2 with a 4.43 ERA in four starts this month, allowing 22 hits, including four homers, in 20 1/3 innings. He has a 3-2 record with a 4.45 ERA in six career starts against the Braves (five starts).
Brewers outfielder Garrett Mitchell doubled down on Tuesday as he continued his return to form after missing the first three months of the season with a finger injury. The speedy Mitchell is hitting .353 (12-for-34) with four doubles, a home run and five runs in his past 11 games.
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