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With perhaps their biggest series of the season on tap, the Atlanta Braves will juggle their rotation for this weekend’s games. MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports that Atlanta will skip Sean Newcomb’s scheduled start with Mike Foltynewicz moving up to pitch on Saturday. Anibal Sanchez is now slated to start in Sunday’s series finale against Aaron Nola. Kevin Gausman will make Thursday’s start with Julio Teheran scheduled to go on Friday.
The Braves are skipping Newcomb's next start. Folty will start Saturday. Sanchez will start Sunday's series finale. Both will be on regular rest.
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) September 20, 2018
Atlanta bought all of their starters an extra day of rest with Touki Toussaint’s start on Wednesday. Newcomb has struggled down the stretch posting a 5.92 ERA over his past 13 starts. He lasted just three innings in his last start allowing six earned runs. He has failed to pitch into the fifth inning in three of his past four starts.
Atlanta carries a 5.5 game lead in the NL East into Thursday’s series opener. Their magic number to clinch the East is down to six games.