After a routine day off on Wednesday, catcher Sean Murphy is back in the Atlanta Braves’ starting lineup for Thursday night’s series finale against the Cincinnati Reds. Murphy’s absence the previous day was part of a scheduled rest, giving backup catcher Drake Baldwin an opportunity to gain valuable playing time behind the plate. Baldwin made the most of the moment, launching the first pulled home run of his major league career — a promising sign for the Braves’ catching depth.
Murphy’s return comes at a crucial moment as Atlanta aims to secure a series win over Cincinnati. While the Braves’ offense has been steady, the Reds have struggled to generate runs, scoring just five times over the first three games of the series. Atlanta’s pitching staff, anchored by effective starts and consistent bullpen work, has kept Cincinnati’s bats in check. Rookie Spencer Schwellenbach, who is slated to start for the Braves on Thursday, will look to build some positive momentum following a pair of rocky outings in recent weeks. This matchup gives him a solid chance to bounce back against a Reds lineup that has been quiet of late.
The Braves’ lineup remains largely unchanged from previous games, aside from Murphy’s return. Alex Verdugo continues to occupy the leadoff spot, providing a consistent presence at the top of the order. In a strategic move against Cincinnati’s left-handed starter Nick Lodolo, manager Brian Snitker has shuffled the batting order slightly. Outfielder Eli White is slotted ahead of center fielder Michael Harris II, maximizing right-handed bats against the southpaw. Ozzie Albies, the Braves’ switch-hitting second baseman, will bat fifth, where he has shown the ability to do damage from either side of the plate.
Lodolo, one of the Reds’ promising young arms, will try to contain a dangerous Atlanta lineup that has proven capable of capitalizing on mistakes. With key sluggers like Matt Olson and Marcell Ozuna looming in the heart of the order, Cincinnati’s pitching staff faces a challenging task in keeping the Braves off the scoreboard.
Despite being down in the series, the Reds are hoping to salvage a split with a strong performance in the finale. Their core lineup features familiar names, but so far this week, they’ve struggled to deliver timely hits. With Schwellenbach looking to find his rhythm and a well-rested Murphy back behind the plate, the Braves have a good opportunity to close out the series with a win and maintain their momentum in the standings.
First pitch is scheduled for Thursday evening, and fans will be watching closely to see if the Braves can continue their recent dominance or if the Reds can bounce back and even things up before the teams go their separate ways.
