The Atlanta Braves welcome the Colorado Rockies to Truist Park on Friday, August 28, for a 7:15 PM ET first pitch. Grant Holmes takes the ball for Atlanta against Colorado's Tomoyuki Sugano in what shapes up as an intriguing pitching matchup. With Ronald Acuña Jr. slotted fourth in a lineup that also features Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, and Michael Harris II, the Braves bring plenty of offensive firepower to a game that has genuine implications in the regular season standings. Catch it on BravesVision or locally on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan.

Pitching Matchup: Grant Holmes vs. Tomoyuki Sugano

Grant Holmes gets the start for Atlanta. The right-hander will need to keep Colorado's lineup in check and give the Braves the kind of quality start that lets the offense do its work. On the other side, Tomoyuki Sugano brings experience to the mound for the Rockies. Sugano is a pitcher who can work through a lineup with deception and command, so Atlanta's hitters will need to stay disciplined and make him work deep into counts early.

Atlanta Braves Starting Lineup

• Drake Baldwin — DH
• Ozzie Albies — 2B
• Matt Olson — 1B
• Ronald Acuña Jr. — RF
• Michael Harris II — CF
• Mauricio Dubón — 3B
• Mike Yastrzemski — LF
• Sean Murphy — C
• Ha-Seong Kim — SS

Colorado Rockies Starting Lineup

• Jake McCarthy — LF
• Cole Carrigg — CF
• Hunter Goodman — C
• TJ Rumfield — 1B
• Willi Castro — 3B
• Mickey Moniak — DH
• Connor Norby — 2B
• Zac Veen — RF
• Ezequiel Tovar — SS

Keys to Watch Friday Night

Acuña and Olson Setting the Tone

The heart of Atlanta's order is the engine that drives this offense. Matt Olson at third and Ronald Acuña Jr. batting cleanup means Colorado's pitching staff gets no rest in the middle of the lineup. If Albies gets on base ahead of them, Truist Park could get loud early. Sugano cannot afford to let the middle of this order beat him.

Holmes Establishing Command

Grant Holmes' effectiveness will hinge on his ability to command the strike zone and avoid deep counts. Colorado's lineup features Hunter Goodman and Ezequiel Tovar, hitters who can do damage when pitchers fall behind. Holmes needs to be sharp from the first inning to keep Atlanta in front.

Bottom of the Braves Order

Atlanta's lineup is constructed to turn over. Ha-Seong Kim hits ninth and feeds right back into Drake Baldwin leading off. That bottom third — Yastrzemski, Murphy, and Kim — needs to contribute. Extra baserunners for Albies and Olson to drive in is how this offense operates at full capacity.

Prediction

This is a favorable spot for Atlanta at Truist Park. The Braves have the lineup depth to work through Sugano, and home-field advantage matters in August when crowd energy is real. If Holmes gives Atlanta five or six solid innings, the bullpen can close it out. Braves win, 5-2.