Braves at Blue Jays
Third base remains a spot where the Atlanta Braves may try to improve in advance of the trade deadline, but Johan Camargo continues serving notice he is capable of handling the position entering the finale of a two-game series Wednesday at the Toronto Blue Jays. Camargo dominated Tuesday, belting his first career grand slam and finishing 4-for-5 with a career-best five RBIs as the National League East leaders stayed 3 ½ games ahead of second-place Washington with an 11-4 win.
Camargo, a slick fielder who can play a variety of positions, is hitting .400 in his past seven games with nine RBIs as Atlanta moved a season-high 14 games above .500. He had plenty of support in the lower part of the lineup, as the Braves pounded Toronto pitching for 11 hits and 10 runs from the bottom four spots in the batting order. The Blue Jays saw their seven-game home winning streak snapped thanks in part to finishing 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, despite hitting six doubles (one off their season high). One of the lone highlights for the Blue Jays in the opener was catcher Luke Maile, who ended a 0-for-12 skid with a hit and two RBIs.
TV: 12:37 p.m. ET, FB-Watch
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (3-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (8-3, 3.48)
Sanchez signed with the Braves in mid-March after being released by Minnesota, and the 34-year-old is an unheralded reason why Atlanta is in first place. Since rejoining the rotation in late May after missing six weeks with a hamstring injury, Sanchez is 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA and only 14 hits allowed in 23 1/3 innings. Sanchez, who struck out six with no walks in seven shutout innings Thursday against San Diego, went 0-1 with a 10.13 ERA in two starts against the Blue Jays last season while pitching with Detroit.
Happ has flourished in his second tour of duty with Toronto - posting a 3.36 ERA in 71 starts since the beginning of 2016 - and at age 35 is putting together one of the best seasons of his 12-year career. He has not allowed an earned run in his past two starts with just three hits allowed in 12 innings, and is 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA and a .146 opponents batting average across his past six outings. Happ is 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA in eight career games (seven starts) against Atlanta, but has not faced the Braves since 2012.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto 1B Justin Smoak snapped a 1-for-29 skid with two hits Tuesday, and has reached base in 58 of his 65 games this season.
2. Atlanta LF Charlie Culberson homered and made a run-saving catch Tuesday, and is hitting .315 since the beginning of May.
3. Blue Jays C Russell Martin, who did not play Tuesday, has walked in seven consecutive games.