After AJ Smith-Shawver’s impressive eight-inning shutout against the Reds, Chris Sale aims to continue the Atlanta Braves’ momentum. Despite pitching well recently with 10 strikeouts against the Rockies, Sale lost due to limited run support. The Braves face Andrew Abbott, who has excelled in limiting earned runs but struggles with walks. The team must capitalize on these opportunities, especially with high walk-rate players like Marcell Ozuna and Matt Olson in the lineup. If Sale performs as expected and the offense takes advantage of Abbott’s flaws, the Braves could secure a win and split the series. Game time is 7:15 p.m. EDT at Truist Park.
After a stellar outing from AJ Smith-Shawver in the series opener against the Cincinnati Reds, Chris Sale aims to continue the momentum he and Smith-Shawver created to keep the Atlanta Braves thriving on the mound.
Just one night following AJ Smith-Shawver’s impressive eight-inning, one-hit shutout against the Reds, Chris Sale is eager to match the rookie’s performance while enhancing his own recent showing. Just days ago, Sale pitched seven innings, allowing only two runs and striking out 10 batters from the Rockies. This season has been particularly challenging for Sale, as he ended up with the loss despite his strong performance, with Atlanta’s lineup struggling against Chase Dollander. Perhaps tonight will be the moment when everything aligns, allowing Chris Sale to deliver an exceptional start with ample run support from his teammates.
For that to occur, the Braves need to find a way to score runs against Andrew Abbott. This is easier said than done, as Abbott has allowed one earned run or fewer in three of his four starts this season. While he’s challenging to face, he hasn’t pitched deep into games. His longest outing so far in 2025 was six innings against the Orioles on April 18, and in his last two starts, he completed just four innings each time.
A recurring theme in Abbott’s recent starts has been his tendency to issue walks. This proved problematic against the Rockies, who scored four runs off him from five hits and five walks. Conversely, he managed to minimize damage against the Cardinals in his last outing, allowing only one unearned run despite walking four batters. For the Braves to succeed against Abbott, they’ll need to exploit any free passes he offers. I’d expect Marcell Ozuna (currently leading baseball with a walk rate of 22.1 percent) and Matt Olson (second with an 18.2 percent walk rate) to potentially have a productive night if Abbott (15.2 percent walk rate) continues his trend of issuing walks.
If the pitching matchup unfolds as anticipated, the Braves should hold an advantage in this contest. Let’s hope Chris Sale has finally rediscovered the rhythm he’s been searching for throughout April. If he can build on his performance from Colorado and follow the example set by AJ Smith-Shawver in Monday night’s opener, the Braves could be in a solid position. The lineup must find a way to keep Andrew Abbott uncomfortable while taking advantage of any walks he might concede. A series split is certainly within reach for the Braves, and they’ll look to secure that with a victory tonight.
Game Info
Game Date/Time: Tuesday, May 6, 7:15 p.m. EDT
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
TV: FanDuel Sports Network South / Southeast
Streaming: MLB.tv
Radio: 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM