The Atlanta Braves used Drake Baldwin at the top of the lineup in their makeup game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night at Truist Park, with first pitch set for 6:05 p.m. ET. It was a notable lineup wrinkle for Atlanta as it continued a home stretch that came before a trip to Washington.
The matchup also carried some added weight because the Braves were trying to keep momentum going in front of the home crowd. A win would help extend a run that had already reached a second consecutive sweep, while a loss would send them on the road with a different feel.
Why Baldwin’s leadoff role stood out
Putting Drake Baldwin at the top of the order gave the Braves a different look in a game that mattered for both the standings and the schedule. It also showed Atlanta was willing to mix up the front of the lineup as it navigated a busy stretch before leaving for Washington.
For the Giants, the game came with a familiar storyline against Bryce Elder. Through five hitters, San Francisco had shown strong recent success against him, with those five posting more than a.400 average against Elder. That made the matchup one to watch from the start, especially in a game where Atlanta was trying to control the pace early.
What the Braves were playing for
Because this was a makeup game, the timing mattered as much as the opponent. The Braves were not only trying to protect their home-field momentum, but also to finish the day in a better spot before heading to Washington.
That gave the game a simple but important frame: Atlanta wanted to keep its recent run going, while the Giants were looking to interrupt it. With Drake Baldwin leading off and Bryce Elder on the mound, the matchup offered a clear snapshot of where the Braves stood at that point in the schedule.
