Sale (18-3) earned the win Thursday over Cincinnati, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks across five innings. He struck out six.
While Sale failed to make it through six innings for the first time in eight starts, the left-hander continues to separate himself as the Cy Young favorite -- Sale hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last 18 outings. He leads the majors in wins, ERA (2.38) and strikeouts (225) through 29 starts (177.2) innings this season. Sale will look to wrap up the regular season on a high note -- he's currently lined up for a home matchup with the Mets next week in what figures to be his final start.
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Braves' Michael Harris: Four homers in last three games
Rotowire
Harris went 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs, four total RBI and four total runs scored in Thursday's 15-3 win over the Reds.
Both of Harris' homers came off Reds' lefty Brandon Leibrandt, a solo shot in the eighth inning and a three-run blast in the ninth. The 23-year-old Harris has been on a tear, going 6-for-16 with four home runs in his last three games. He's now slashing .251/.291/.405 with 15 homers, 45 RBI, 51 runs scored and nine steals across 429 plate appearances this season.
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Braves' Matt Olson: Homers twice in rout
Rotowire
Olson went 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, four total RBI and three total runs scored in Thursday's 15-3 win over Cincinnati.
Olson got the scoring started with a solo shot off Julian Aguiar in the second inning before adding a three-run homer in the fifth, extending Atlanta's lead to 8-1. While it's been a down year overall for Olson, he's been on fire down the stretch, going 15-for-36 (.417) with a pair of home runs and 15 RBI in his last 10 games. The 30-year-old first baseman has boosted his slash line to .243/.326/.459 with 28 homers, 94 RBI and 76 runs scored across 647 plate appearances this season.
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Braves' Ozzie Albies: Confirmed to return Friday
Rotowire
Albies (wrist) will be activated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Friday's game in Miami, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Things were pointing in that direction, but Atlanta presumably wanted to wait to see how he bounced back from a couple rehab games with Triple-A Gwinnett on Tuesday and Wednesday before officially clearing him to return to the active roster. The switch-hitting Albies will bat exclusively from the right side upon his return, at least initially, due to continued discomfort in his fractured left hand when swinging from the left side.
Harris went 1-for-5 with a solo home run during Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Reds.
Harris lifted his 13th home run of the campaign Wednesday, tagging Justin Wilson for a solo shot in the eighth inning. Harris has gone yard in back-to-back games and has four homers in his last eight outings. During that stretch, Harris is 11-for-36 (.306) with seven runs, six RBI and a stolen base.
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Braves' Marcell Ozuna: Three XBH in win
Rotowire
Ozuna went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, two doubles, two runs scored and two total RBI during Wednesday's 7-1 win over the Reds.
Ozuna snapped a streak of 26 games without a home run, taking Tony Santillan yard in the seventh inning. In September, Ozuna is 17-for-56 (.304) with seven runs, two RBI and almost as many walks (10) as strikeouts (11).
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Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach: Snares seventh win
Rotowire
Schwellenbach (7-7) picked up the win Wednesday against Cincinnati, allowing one run on five hits and two walks across six innings. He struck out five.
Schwellenbach nabbed his second straight quality start and pushed his streak of starts allowing three earned runs or fewer to 10. During that stretch, the 24-year-old has a 2.75 ERA and 69:12 K:BB across 59 innings. Schwellenbach is tentatively scheduled to face the Mets next week in Atlanta.
Kelenic is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.
The left-handed-hitting Kelenic has picked up just two starts in eight games, even while Atlanta has opposed six right-handed starters during that span. After previously occupying the strong side of a platoon in left field, Kelenic appears to have ceded everyday duties at the position to Ramon Laureano. Kelenic's reduction in playing time comes while he's managed a lowly .176/.240/.294 slash line with a 30.7 percent strikeout rate dating back to Aug. 10.
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Braves' Ramon Laureano: Poaching starts from Kelenic
Rotowire
Laureano will start in left field and bat fifth in Wednesday's game against the Reds.
Laureano will be included the lineup for the sixth time in eight games, with the right-handed-hitting outfielder having picked up four starts versus righties during that span. After previously occupying the short side of a platoon in left field, Laureano appears to have unseated the struggling Jarred Kelenic as the preferred option at the position. Dating back to the All-Star break, Laureano has produced an .858 OPS over 45 games.
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Braves' Travis d'Arnaud: Giving way to Murphy on Wednesday
Rotowire
D'Arnaud is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.
D'Arnaud has alternated starts behind the plate with Sean Murphy since the former returned from the paternity list last Thursday. Murphy will get the nod Wednesday after d'Arnaud went 1-for-4 with a walk in Tuesday's 6-5 loss.
