The Braves have a great opportunity to win the series against Oakland Athletics

The Atlanta Braves would love to win this series.

After a frustrating May, in which they posted a losing record for the first time since 2022 and went just 4-4 in their eight complete series during the month, hosting the Oakland Athletics seemed like an opportunity to “do well.” But after a Game 1 victory, Atlanta’s offense couldn’t muster that decisive hit in a high-scoring affair, with Oakland winning Saturday’s game 11-9.

Atlanta looks to take series behind veteran Charlie Morton (3-2, 4.29), on the mound for his 11th start of the season against Luis Medina, making his first start of the season after an MCL sprain sent him to the injured list during spring training.

Here’s how Atlanta will line up for the contest:

CFMichael Harris II
3B Austin Riley
DH Marcell Ozuna
1B Matt Olson
2B Ozzie Albies
RF Adam Duvall
LF Jarred Kelenic
C Sean Murphy
SSOrlando Arcia

Morton faces the Athletics for the first time as a member of the Braves – his last start was in 2019 when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays. He has a good record against Oakland – 1-0 with a 2.30 ERA in his last five starts – but very little of that experience translates to Oakland’s current roster. Only five players on their roster even have an official at-bat out of Morton, and only two have hits – OF Miguel Andujar is 1-6 and infielder JD Davis is 2-2.

Here is the Athletics program:

3B Abraham Toro
LF Miguel Andújar
CF JJ Bléday
DH Brent Rooker
RF Seth Brown
2B Zack Gelof
C Kyle McCann
SS Max Schuemann
1B Tyler Soderstrom

Medina, as we mentioned above, makes his season debut today after a right MCL injury sent him to the 15-day and then 60-day IL earlier this season. His rehab outings have not gone well so far this season, pitching a total of eight innings and allowing thirteen runs on fourteen hits, three walks and ten strikeouts. He also showed control issues, with four RAPs and three wild pitches in just 46 batters faced.

Medina has never faced the Braves as a starter, and very few Atlanta hitters have seen him as an official at-bat: Adam Duvall and Jarred Kelenic are the only ones, and they are both 1-3 .

This afternoon’s series finale is scheduled for a first pitch at 1:35 p.m. ET. It airs on Bally Sports Southeast and NBC-Southern California, with out-of-market people getting the game on MLB.tv.

If you prefer to just listen, the Athletics radio broadcast is available on Bloomberg 960 AM/103.7 HD2, while the Atlanta Braves Radio Network carries the standard broadcast on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan and its affiliates throughout Braves country.