The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves each went 6-2 in their first eight games after the July 30 trade deadline, and both will look to a veteran starter when they collide Tuesday night in Atlanta.
Reds starter Sonny Gray enters Tuesday having struck out at least six batters in five of his past six starts and is getting 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings this season, but has allowed 18 runs across 19 innings in his past four starts.
Those swings and misses should come in handy against a Braves offense that ranks second in the NL in home runs with 1.4 per game and third in the NL in runs per game at home with 5.25, but rates 23rd in the majors in strikeouts per game at home with 9.09.
The Reds had scored at least four runs in 15 straight games prior to their 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday despite slugger Nick Castellanos missing 12 of those games.
With Braves starter Drew Smyly posting a 4.71 ERA in his seven home starts and the Braves going 2-5 in those, look for the Reds to continue their playoff push.
The Play: Reds, -105.