Reds @ Braves

Who will WIN this matchup?

Cincinnati Reds (1-1)

@ Atlanta Braves (1-1)

Starting Pitchers:

Gutierrez (CIN): 0-0; 0.00 ERA

Wright (ATL) 0-0; 0.00 ERA

Current odds:

Cincinnati Reds: (+151)

Atlanta Braves: (-179)

• The starting line up for the Reds is as follows:

• The starting line up for the Braves is as follows:

• The Atlanta Braves have their first win as defending World Series champions, and they can thank one of their additions for contributing to the cause. Matt Olson was acquired from the Oakland A’s for four prospects in mid-March and signed a contract extension for eight years and $168 million. Longtime first baseman Freddie Freeman left in free agency for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

• On Friday night in Atlanta’s 7-6 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds, Olson, an Atlanta native, had his first three hits for his new team. He was 0-for-2 in Thursday’s season-opening 6-3 loss.

• The other star Friday night was 38-year-old starter Charlie Morton, who retired the first 12 Cincinnati batters in recording his first win of the season.

• The Braves will send a much younger starter to the home mound Saturday in the third game of the four-game, season-opening series. Right-hander Kyle Wright (0-1, 9.95 in 2021) gets the call as the Braves look for their second straight win over the Reds. Wright, 26, will make his first career start against Cincinnati.

• The Reds will counter with right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez (9-6, 4.74 in 2021). The 26-year-old native of Cuba is coming off a season in which he finished eighth in voting for National League Rookie of the Year, won by teammate Jonathan India. In his first 16 starts through August, Gutierrez was 9-4 with a 3.68 ERA.

• Gutierrez faced the Braves twice in 2021, taking the loss in a 3-2 setback at Great American Ball Park on June 25. He allowed two homers among six hits and three runs. Gutierrez bounced back on Aug. 12, holding the Braves to five hits and one run in Cincinnati’s 12-3 win in Atlanta.

• One of the highlights for the Reds in the first two games of the series has been the play of center fielder Nick Senzel, the former first-round pick out of Tennessee in 2016. Senzel, who was taken second overall by the Reds, has had trouble staying healthy in his first three seasons with the team.

• The Reds had two relievers make impressive major-league debuts Friday as Daniel Duarte and Alexis Diaz each recorded a scoreless inning and struck out two.