Red Sox-Braves Pitching: Kelly, Buchholz Scheduled To Start In Atlanta
BOSTON (CBS) -- They did it. The Red Sox snapped their losing streak on Wednesday afternoon with a 9-4 win over the Atlanta Braves.
Now they head to Atlanta for a pair of games to conclude the home-and-home series, looking to turn that one win into a winning streak.
That quest begins Wednesday night, when the Red Sox send Joe Kelly to the hill.
Here's a look at the pitching matchups in the quick two-gamer down in Atlanta:
Wednesday, June 17 -- 7:10pm
Joe Kelly (2-4, 5.45 ERA) vs. Alex Wood (4-4, 3.56 ERA)
You never really know what you're going to get out of Joe Kelly when he takes the hill (minus, of course, silky smooth arms), but he had some success against the Braves during his time in the National League.
Kelly has made just two starts against Atlanta (both in 2013), but limited the damage in each outing. He pitched 6.1 shutout innings in Atlanta, earning a no-decision, and grabbed his only win against the Braves allowing two runs over six innings in August 2013. Overall, Kelly has a 1.46 ERA against the Braves, allowing 14 hits and giving up six walks, but the Braves only crossed home twice (thanks to a two-run Justin Upton homer) against the righty.
His last time out, Kelly gave up four runs on seven hits over six innings, earning a no-decision in a 13-10 Boston loss to Toronto. The Red Sox are 5-7 in Kelly's starts this season.
Atlanta's Wednesday night starter, 24-year-old Alex Wood, was riding a great stretch to end May and start June, allowing just three earned runs over 22 innings en route to winning three straight. But he's dropped his last two starts, giving up seven runs on 13 hits and five walks. His last time out, Wood gave up four runs, including a pair of homers, in 6.1 innings in a loss to the Mets.
Key Matchup: Freddie Freeman vs. Kelly
The Atlanta first baseman is hitting .344 for June with five homers, but went 2-for-9 in the two games in Boston.
Thursday, June 18 -- 7:10pm
Clay Buchholz (3-6, 4.22 ERA) vs. Shelby Miller (5-2, 2.02 ERA)
Buchholz has allowed four runs in each of his last two outings, earning no-decisions in both, and hasn't been able to build off his eight shutout innings against the Twins to begin June.
He also got roughed up in his only trip to Turner Field, giving up six runs after walking eight in three-plus innings in 2014. Buchholz said the Atlanta humidity caused him to lose nine pounds on the mound that night.
He'll be opposed by Atlanta righty Shelby Miller. It's been exactly one month since Miller tossed a complete game shutout against the Miami Marlins, allowing just two hits. That gem was the last time he's been credited with a win, and Miller has been tagged with a loss and four no-decisions since.
But that doesn't necessarily mean he's been pitching poorly. In those five starts since earning a W, Miller has allowed just 11 earned runs in 30.2 innings.
Key Matchup: Nick Markakis vs. Buchholz
Markakis has plenty of experience against Buchholz thanks to his time in Baltimore, but is hitting just .154 (6-for-39) with six walks and five strikeouts -- including a very famous K in Buchholz's second career start.
