Ronald Acuna Jr. is the youngest player in the major leagues, and the Atlanta Braves look to finish a sweep of a two-game series at the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday thanks to the power from one of baseball’s rising young stars. In his 12th big-league game, the 20-year-old cranked his third homer - a 434-foot blast deep into the left-field seats - in a 1-0 Atlanta victory on Tuesday to raise his average to .320 with three homers and six RBIs in his first 50 at-bats.
The surprising Braves remain in first place in the National League East, shaking off a sweep at home against San Francisco over the weekend by starting the six-game road trip with their fifth one-run victory of the season. Sean Newcomb improved to 3-1 and lowered his ERA to 2.88 in his 26th major-league start, giving Tampa Bay its fourth loss in the past six games. The Rays started catcher Wilson Ramos - who brought a 14-game hitting streak into the series - at designated hitter Tuesday and he collected a single to lead off the ninth, giving him a .414 average during his last 15 contests. One concern is the health of shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, who took a foul ball off the catwalk above the field off his face in the eighth inning and had to leave the game.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Sun (Tampa Bay)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (2-1, 3.65 ERA) vs. Rays LH Ryan Yarbrough (2-1, 3.33)
Teheran got off to a rough start but has more than made up for it recently, giving up just four runs on 13 hits with 23 strikeouts in 23 innings across his past four starts. The 27-year-old was outstanding in authoring one of the best starts of his career Thursday at New York, no-hitting the Mets for 6 2/3 innings before finishing the outing with just two hits allowed and two walks with six strikeouts in seven scoreless innings. Teheran posted a 7.07 ERA through his first three starts, but has a 1.57 ERA and a .165 opponents batting average since.
Yarbrough makes the second start of his rookie season as Tampa Bay continues juggling its rotation following an injury to Yonny Chirinos. The 26-year-old, who has made seven appearances out of the bullpen, lost his only other start April 15 to Philadelphia - giving up two earned runs (five in all) on three hits in 4 2/3 innings. He impressed in long relief Friday against Toronto, holding the Blue Jays to one hit with four strikeouts in five scoreless innings, and in his past two outings has surrendered two runs on four hits with 10 strikeouts over nine frames.
WALK-OFFS1. Tampa Bay RHP Nathan Eovaldi, on the disabled list after right elbow surgery and seeking a return to the majors for the first time since 2016, will make a rehab start Wednesday with Class-A Port Charlotte.
2. Atlanta rookie LHP Luiz Gohara, who made five starts last September, joined the team Tuesday and will work out of the bullpen.
3. Tampa Bay recorded four strikeouts in the top of the seventh inning Tuesday thanks to a wild pitch on strike three that allowed Atlanta 3B Charlie Culberson to reach.