Braves at Reds Preview

CINCINNATI (Interstat) — The Atlanta Braves aim for a three-game sweep Sunday afternoon when they face the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 p.m. EDT. The weather forecast calls for 79 degrees and cloudy skies.

Atlanta (39-19) enters with the best record in the National League. The Braves have won two straight against the Reds, including an 8-3 victory Friday and a 3-2 win Saturday.

Right-hander Spencer Strider (3-0, 2.70 ERA) is Atlanta’s probable starter. Strider has not allowed more than three earned runs in any of his five starts this season.

Cincinnati (29-27) has dropped four of its past six games. The Reds have not named a probable pitcher for Sunday.

Grant Holmes has been a reliable arm out of the Braves bullpen. In his past five appearances, Holmes has a 3-1 record with a 2.95 ERA. He earned the win Friday, allowing three earned runs over 4 2/3 innings while striking out five.

For the Reds, left-hander Caleb Ferguson has been effective in relief. Over his past two outings, Ferguson has surrendered zero earned runs in 3 innings, striking out four.

Atlanta’s lineup features center fielder Michael Harris II, who drove in three runs in Friday’s win. Third baseman Sal Stewart leads Cincinnati’s offense after going 3-for-4 with an RBI on Friday.

The Braves have won eight of their past 10 games. Their only losses in that stretch came to the Washington Nationals on May 23 and 24.

Cincinnati is looking to avoid its first sweep since losing three straight to the St. Louis Cardinals on May 22-23.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, the projected final score is Atlanta 6, Cincinnati 5. The Braves are installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The over-under is set at 8.5 runs.

After Sunday’s series finale, Atlanta returns home to host the Toronto Blue Jays for a three-game set beginning Tuesday. Cincinnati welcomes the Kansas City Royals for a three-game series starting Monday.