Atlanta will send veteran right-hander Charlie Morton to the mound in search of a four-game sweep of the visiting Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
Atlanta has won five in a row and 12 of its last 14. Colorado has lost four straight and dropped 10 of its last 13. The Braves are seeking their sixth sweep of the season.
The Braves continued their offensive surge on Saturday with a 10-2 win. They have scored six or more runs in each of their last five games, combining for 42 runs and 52 hits during that stretch.
Morton (5-6, 3.60 ERA) will face Colorado right-hander Chase Anderson (0-0, 2.72) in the series finale.
The 39-year-old Morton will be making his 14th start. He did not receive a decision in his previous start on Monday, when the bullpen could not hold a four-run lead and lost 6-5 to Detroit in 10 innings. Morton pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings and allowed four hits, three walks and eight strikeouts.
“I felt pretty good,” Morton said. “Not as efficient as I’d liked to have been. I wish I’d gone a little bit deeper in the game, but I think it went OK.”
In 12 career starts against the Rockies, Morton is 4-2 with a 3.89 ERA. He beat Colorado on June 5, 2022, when he pitched five innings and gave up four runs in an 8-7 win.
Anderson, 35, will be making his seventh start for the Rockies since he was claimed off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on May 12. He did not factor in the decision in his last start on Tuesday when he pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up three runs with six strikeouts against the Boston Red Sox. He has not allowed more than three runs in any of his starts with the Rockies.
“I think with Tampa, that organization is really good at finding out your strengths pretty quickly and really simplifying the approach,” Anderson said. “I think that’s helped me mentally to know what pitches to go to when I’m on the mound when I need to.
“I spent some time with them last year in Triple-A in August and then the short stint big leagues this year. I have nothing but good things to say about Tampa. They’ve helped me out a lot.”
Anderson has enjoyed success against the Braves in his career, going 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in six career starts. His last appearance came on July 17, 2019, when he threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings of one-hit ball while playing for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Anderson began the season with the Cincinnati’s Triple-A Louisville affiliate and was acquired by Tampa via a trade on May 3. He was designated for assignment by the Rays days later and signed the following week by Colorado.
Colorado’s Ryan McMahon returned to the lineup on Saturday and went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to nine games. He has reached base safely in 22 of his last 24 games.
The Rockies designated right-hander Dinelson Lamet for assignment after he allowed eight runs in four innings on Friday. They recalled right-handed reliever Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Albuquerque and he gave up one run in two innings on Saturday.
Atlanta will be without catcher Sean Murphy, who left Saturday’s game with right hamstring soreness. He had an MRI after the game and will be evaluated on Sunday.
–Field Level Media
