Braves set for doubleheader matchup Sunday against Phillies

The Atlanta Braves will look to get back in the win column when they continue their series in Philadelphia with a doubleheader on Sunday. Both games will be seven innings and the second game is scheduled to start approximately 40 minutes after the first game ends.

The Braves did not announce their pitching plans for the first game of the doubleheader until after Saturday’s loss and the Phillies still have not made their plans official as of this writing. Brian Snitker confirmed following Saturday’s loss that rookie right-hander Huascar Ynoa will start game one and will be followed by Max Fried in game two. The Phillies are expected to go with Vince Velasquez, who was Friday’s scheduled starter, in the first game with rookie Spencer Howard making his major league debut in game two.

Snitker stopped short of confirming that Ynoa would serve as an opener but he is expected to complete just one or two innings. Sunday will be his third career appearance and his first start at the major league level. Ynoa was ranked 18th on Talking Chop’s preseason prospect list.

Velasquez will be making his second start of the season and will be looking for better results after allowing three hits and four runs over three innings in his debut against the Marlins. He walked two, struck out four and allowed two homers in the start. Velasquez has not had a lot of success in his career against the Braves in his career recording a 5.20 ERA in 53 2/3 innings while allowing six home runs.

Max Fried will be making his fourth start of the season on Sunday and is off to a great start in 2020. Fried held the Blue Jays to four hits and one run over six innings in his last outing. He has allowed a total of four runs in 17 2/3 innings on the season.

Spencer Howard is the 29th best prospect on Baseball America’s updated Top 100 list. Howard has a big fastball and a curveball that generates plenty of swings and misses. He was limited to just 71 innings in 2019 due to shoulder soreness.

The Braves managed just four hits in Saturday’s 5-0 loss. They will be looking to get their offense jumpstarted on Sunday. Their top four hitters in Saturday’s lineup, Ronald Acuña Jr., Dansby Swanson, Freddie Freeman and Marcell Ozuna, combined to go 0-for-15 with a walk and seven strikeouts.

Game Info

Game Date/Time: Sunday, August 9, 1:05 p.m. ET

Location: Citizens Bank Park

TV: Fox Sports South

Streaming: MLB.tv

Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, WNNX 100.5, Braves Radio Network