Braves vs Giants Preview: Pitching duel as Sale faces Robbie Ray

Atlanta just dropped game one of this series. The Braves fell 3-1 to San Francisco on Friday night, and now they're facing a tough challenge at Oracle Park. Here's the good news: Chris Sale takes the mound for Atlanta on Sunday. Sale is pitching like an ace right now with a 1.1 ERA and 19 strikeouts this season. He's the kind of pitcher who can shut down a whole lineup and get the Braves back on track. Atlanta's record sits at 49-32, but they've lost their last game. Sale's arm could change everything about this series.

San Francisco just won their last game and they're feeling good. The Giants are 34-48 overall but they're playing at home where they control the field. Robbie Ray will pitch for San Francisco on Sunday. Ray has posted a 2.96 ERA with 16 strikeouts this season. The Giants know they need steady pitching to climb out of their position in the standings. Ray's arm gives them a real shot to string together wins. Giants fans at Oracle Park will be loud and ready to support their team's push back into contention.

The Braves are 49-32 but they've lost one of their last ten games, sitting 3-7 in that stretch. Ronald Acuña Jr. is out with a hamstring injury, which hurts Atlanta's offense. San Francisco is 34-48 and struggling overall, but at home they're 17-22. The Giants just beat Atlanta 3-1 on Friday. Now Atlanta needs a win to even this series. Both teams have pitching they can trust on Sunday. This game matters for Atlanta's playoff push and for San Francisco's chances to climb back into the race.