Skidding Braves, Red Sox face off in interleague series opener

Two slumping clubs will try to find their footing on Friday when the Boston Red Sox visit the Atlanta Braves to start a three-game interleague series.

The Red Sox are coming off a three-game sweep at Milwaukee, the last two in extra innings, and have lost a season-high five in a row. Boston has fallen to four games below .500.

The Braves salvaged one win during their three-game series at Philadelphia. But Atlanta has lost seven of its last 10 and has fallen three games below .500.

This will be the second meeting between the teams this season. The Braves won two of three at Boston, May 15-18. In interleague games, Atlanta is 7-5 and Boston is 6-6. Boston is 11-17 on the road.

The starting pitchers, a pair of right-handers, will be Boston's Lucas Giolito (1-1, 5.27 ERA) against Atlanta's Grant Holmes (3-3, 3.68).

Giolito, who missed the first 31 games of the season with a left hamstring strain, has recorded three quality games in five starts. He is coming off his best start of the season; in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, he threw seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits and two walks and striking out six.

"I didn't feel like I had my best stuff, but we had a good mix going," Giolito said. "I knew it was really important to go deep into the game, considering the bullpen usage and our starting staff (struggling) -- so it was important for me to get into the sixth inning and beyond."

Giolito faced the Braves on May 17 and was knocked out after allowing six runs -- giving up three home runs -- in four innings. In four career appearances, three starts, against Atlanta, Giolito is 0-2 with an 11.12 ERA.

Holmes will make his 11th start and has allowed two or fewer runs in four of the last five starts. In his last outing, on Saturday against San Diego, Holmes pitched seven innings and allowed one run on six hit and one walk while striking out six.

"It's just getting Strike 1 and letting them get themselves out," Holmes said. "That was pretty much the game plan -- cutters, breakers down and then busting them in with the heater."

Holmes faced the Red Sox on May 17 and did not receive a decision after allowing two runs over six innings. It was his only career appearance against Boston.

The Boston offense has been driven by Rafael Devers, who has 32 RBIs in 26 games in May, the second 30-RBI month of his career. Devers is batting .365 (35-for-96) with 14 runs scored, five doubles, seven homers and 21 walks during the month.

Atlanta's Ozzie Albies is riding a 14-game hitting streak, going 18-for-51 during the stretch to raise his batting average from .207 to .242. The hitting streak comes on the heels of a six-game hitless skid that saw him go 0-for-28.

Atlanta shortstop Nick Allen left the second game of the doubleheader on Thursday after being hit on the hand by a pitch. Stuart Fairchild had to leave early in first game after dislocating his pinkie finger while sliding at second base.

--Field Level Media