ON DECK: ASTROS AT ATLANTA BRAVES
When/where: Friday and Saturday at 6:20 p.m., Sunday at 12:30 p.m.; Truist Park.
TV/radio: Apple TV+ on Friday, ATTSW on Saturday and Sunday; 790 AM, 740 AM, 93.3 FM (Spanish), 1010 AM (Spanish).
Pitchers: Friday, RHP Hunter Brown (2-0, 1.93) vs. RHP Bryce Elder (2-0, 1.53); Saturday, LHP Framber Valdez (1-2, 1.80) vs. RHP Kyle Wright (0-0, 6.23); Sunday, RHP Cristian Javier (2-0, 3.68) vs. LHP Max Fried (1-0, 1.08).
Astros (9-10) update: Yordan Alvarez has reached base safely in each of his 17 games entering this 2021 World Series rematch. That’s the longest streak in the American League this season. … Mauricio Dubón’s 14-game hitting streak is the longest active streak in the majors and the longest in the AL this year. His .323 batting average is eighth in the AL. … In his past 26 appearances dating to Sept. 20, including 10 scoreless outings in last year’s postseason, Bryan Abreu has allowed one earned run in 251⁄3 innings (0.36 ERA).
Braves (14-5) update: Atlanta, which had an eight-game winning streak snapped with a 1-0 loss at San Diego on Wednesday, shares the National League’s best record with Milwaukee. Only Tampa Bay (16-3), the Astros’ next opponent after this series, has a better one. … The Braves have three players among the top 11 in OPS: catcher Sean Murphy (seventh, 1.031), first baseman Matt Olson (10th, .999) and right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (11th, .995). … Acuña is tied for the MLB lead with 18 runs. His .451 on-base percentage is fourth-best in the majors, and he’s tied for third with eight stolen bases. … Olson leads the National League with 20 RBIs. … Murphy had 11 consecutive hits go for extra bases before singling Tuesday, breaking the Atlanta record of 10 set by Gary Matthews in 1979. The franchise mark of 12 was set by Wally Berger with the 1935 Boston Braves. … Righthander Jesse Chavez, 39, has yet to allow a run in 10 relief appearances covering nine innings.
Steve Schaeffer