Fresh off sweep, Braves intend to keep guard up vs. Rockies

The Atlanta Braves are fresh off one of the regular season's most impressive series to date, sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in three tightly contested games.

The next challenge will be avoiding a letdown against the woeful Colorado Rockies.

After seeing his team skate by Los Angeles in three consecutive one-run games, Braves manager Walt Weiss is hopeful the momentum carries into the series opener on Friday in Atlanta.

"Regardless of who you're playing, you can't ever let your guard down in this league," Weiss said. "You'll get embarrassed. Some series do feel different, but every game you win counts the same. Mentally, emotionally, psychologically -- some are different."

Right-hander Grant Holmes (8-5, 3.64 ERA) will get the start and try to extend the Braves' winning streak to five games.

Holmes took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning in his most recent start last Thursday before allowing just one hit while striking out three and walking three in a 2-0 road win over the Chicago White Sox. Holmes has thrown six scoreless innings in three of four starts this month.

He is 0-1 with a 6.61 ERA in three career starts against the Rockies. He faced them on May 1, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits across five innings while striking out four and walking three in a no-decision. The Braves won 8-6.

Colorado, meanwhile, is tied with the Los Angeles Angels for the majors' worst record.

Manager Warren Schaeffer understands his club isn't close to where it wants to be but doesn't think the Rockies are as far off as they appear.

"We like our team, but we have 52 wins," Schaeffer said. "I think we're well on our way. It's not going to happen overnight. I don't think it happened overnight for the White Sox; they've been getting better as the years have gone on. We're making strides to that and (President of baseball operations) Paul (DePodesta) and (general manager Josh Byrnes) have done a great job of getting us where we want to go."

Colorado has dropped eight of its last 10 games and is coming off a four-game split with the Washington Nationals.

Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (12-7, 4.96) will look to rebound after a second straight unimpressive start.

Sugano, 36, has surrendered 12 runs (11 earned) across his last two outings. On Sunday, he lasted just three innings, allowing five runs on nine hits while striking out two and walking one in a 7-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians.

"It was similar to his last outing where he got behind in counts early," Schaeffer said of Sugano, who gave up six earned runs to the Dodgers two starts ago. "You compound being behind in at bats with good takes, tons of foul balls, his pitch count ran up heavily. Tomo has been so good for us. He just didn't have it (on Sunday); he didn't feel it."

Making his 54th start across two major league seasons, Sugano will face the Braves for the first time.

--Field Level Media