Braves Seek Turnaround Against Twins Following Dramatic Win

ATLANTA, Ga. — Fresh off a dramatic come-from-behind victory, the Atlanta Braves aim to build momentum when they face the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night in the second game of their three-game series. The Braves rallied for five runs in the eighth inning to secure a 6-4 win over the Twins on Friday, marking their ninth consecutive victory against Minnesota.

“This felt more like the Braves here tonight. It was a good one to win,” said Braves manager Brian Snitker. “We were kind of laying dead in the weeds there for a while, and it was good how the guys kept fighting back and had some really good at-bats. They should be very encouraged by what went down.”

Despite Friday’s win, the Braves hold an overall record of 4-11, with much of their struggles attributed to inconsistent hitting. They entered the series hitting only .222, placing them 11th in the National League. Adding to the anticipation of Saturday’s matchup, left-hander Chris Sale, last season’s Cy Young winner, takes the mound despite struggling early this season.

Sale, sporting an ERA of 6.63, hopes to regain form after lacking effectiveness in each of his four starts. In his most recent outing, he managed just 4 1/3 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, allowing four runs and striking out seven in an 8-3 loss. “Frustrated would be a wild understatement,” Sale remarked. “I’m just bad. I’m just trying to compete and trying to throw strikes, and it’s just not working.”

This will be a crucial game for Sale, who has yet to exceed five innings in any start this season. He recognizes the need for better results as he faces off against Minnesota’s young right-hander, Simeon Woods Richardson. The 23-year-old Woods Richardson has a 4.30 ERA in his three starts this season and is coming off his first win after a solid performance against the Detroit Tigers.

Woods Richardson expressed the importance of making pitches to the Atlanta lineup: “I just had to go out and make pitches — that was the biggest thing,” he said. He previously faced the Braves last season without a decision, allowing four runs over 4 2/3 innings.

In Friday’s game, rookie Luke Keaschall made a significant debut for Minnesota, hitting 2-for-4 with an RBI, reflecting the potential of the Twins’ younger roster. Manager Rocco Baldelli praised Keaschall, stating, “He’s an exciting young player. We had a really good chance to watch him this spring.”

As for the Braves lineup, after a lengthy dry spell, they will look to capitalize against Woods Richardson. Fans are hopeful that the team can carry the momentum from Friday’s win into Saturday’s game. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. EDT at Truist Park, and the game can be viewed on FanDuel Sports South/Southeast and streamed on MLB.tv.