Braves-Rockies series preview: Can Atlanta build off its latest series win in 3-game set vs. Rockies?

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - When Ronald Acuña Jr. made his triumphant return to the Atlanta Braves lineup on May 23, it seemed like the spark for a middling Braves team struggling to gain any traction this season.

But since his return, the Braves (29-38) are 5-18 and are now 15 games behind the first-place New York Mets in the National League East.

Atlanta won its first series in nearly a month on Wednesday with a 6-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers, and now it faces a Colorado Rockies club that’s trying to escape the “worst team in MLB history” allegations. Friday’s series opener will be broadcast live on Gray Media.

The Chicago White Sox set the single-season record for most losses in the regular season (121) last year. The Rockies (13-55) are on pace for 131 losses.

Now is a better time than ever for Atlanta to build momentum before 13 straight games against NL East opponents.

Here’s what to know going into the weekend:

Braves-Rockies pitching probables

Friday, 7:15 p.m. – RHP Bryce Elder vs. RHP Germán Márquez

Saturday, 4:10 p.m. – RHP Spencer Strider vs. RHP Chase Dollander

Sunday, 1:35 p.m. – LHP Chris Sale vs. TBD

Bryce Elder filled AJ Smith-Shawver’s spot in the rotation once he went down with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on May 29. This season, Elder has pitched to a 4.08 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 57.1 innings. In 24 at-bats against Elder, Rockies hitters have hit .333 with two home runs off him.

Spencer Strider has been out of character since his return to the mound, posting an 0-5 record and a 5.40 ERA after five starts. In two career starts against the Rockies, Strider has allowed just four hits and one run over 12 innings of work.

Again, a date with the Rockies has the potential to do wonders to Strider and his mental state on the mound.

Braves and Rockies hitters to watch

Braves: Sure, the Braves have had it a little rough the past few weeks. But on the bright side, Ronald Acuña Jr. looks as though he’s picked up right where he left off. Since his return on May 23, Acuña has hit .353 with six home runs, 11 RBIs and 10 walks in 18 games. That’s a 162-game pace of 54 home runs and 99 RBIs, which is pretty good.

Other hitters to watch would be Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson, who’ve both terrorized Colorado starting pitcher German Marquez throughout his career. Albies is hitting .429 with two home runs in 14 plate appearances and Olson is hitting .462 with a pair of doubles against the right-hander.

Rockies: For a struggling ballclub, Hunter Goodman has paved a clear path to be an All-Star for Colorado in 2025. The 25-year-old catcher has hit .287 with 11 home runs in 66 games and has hit .349 since May 30. He leads the team in just about every hitting category, and leads all National League catchers in hits, home runs and RBIs.

How to watch Braves on Gray

Gray Media will simulcast these 15 Atlanta Braves games throughout the Southeast this season.

Fans can watch the Braves on Gray by tuning into PeachtreeTV, Atlanta’s CW Network. Fans can also watch games on YouTube TV, over the air on channel 17.1 and on channel 17 on Dish Network and DirecTV and channel 7 on Xfinity and Spectrum.

If you are in another market outside of Atlanta, you can find your channel at BravesOnGray.com.