← Back to today’s slate MLB matchup · September 9, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays
86-58 · 1st in AL East
Bats heating up
RHP Griffin Jax · High-strikeout arm
@
Atlanta Braves
85-60 · 1st in NL East
Offense cooling lately
Starter TBD
MLB · Truist Park · 4:15 PM PT

Team Identity

Tampa Bay Rays
Season-to-date, 144 games, 5,693 PA.
A contact-oriented, opportunistic offense that puts the ball in play and avoids empty at-bats, though it can be free-swinging. The bats have been heating up lately.
Power
Below Avg33
Contact
Elite97
Plate Discipline
Below Avg29
Speed
Above Avg69
RISP
Above Avg76
Recent Form
Trending Up
Total bases per PA is up 6% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.
Atlanta Braves
Season-to-date, 145 games, 5,590 PA.
A power-hitting, opportunistic offense that does damage on extra-base hits, though it can be free-swinging. The offense has cooled off recently.
Power
Above Avg80
Contact
Average59
Plate Discipline
Well Below24
Speed
Below Avg38
RISP
Above Avg77
Recent Form
Trending Down
Total bases per PA is down 11% over the team's last 10 games versus its season baseline.

What This Game Is About

Biggest Advantage

Braves bring the more power-hitting profile, while Rays lean on being contact-oriented.

Swing Factor

Braves rank in the 80th percentile in extra-base production, while Griffin Jax sits in the 46th percentile at suppressing total bases.

Momentum

Rays are trending up and Braves are trending down over their last 10 games.

Key Matchups

Can Griffin Jax limit Braves' power?
Braves rank in the 80th percentile in extra-base production, while Griffin Jax sits in the 46th percentile at suppressing total bases.
Edge · BravesBraves: 0.358 TB/PAGriffin Jax: 0.345 TB/PA allowed (414 PA)High confidence
Can Griffin Jax miss enough bats?
Griffin Jax strikes hitters out at a 24.4% clip (72nd percentile); Braves carry a 21.1% strikeout rate.
Edge · BravesGriffin Jax: 24.4% K rateBraves: 21.1% K rateHigh confidence
Can Griffin Jax command the strike zone?
Braves walk in 7.4% of trips; Griffin Jax allows walks sparingly (7.7%).
Edge · Griffin JaxBraves: 7.4% walk rateGriffin Jax: 7.7% walks allowedHigh confidence
How do Braves handle right-handers?
Braves have produced better against right-handers this season (0.362 vs. 0.358 TB/PA overall).
Edge · Bravesvs right-handers: 0.362 TB/PA (3679 PA)overall: 0.358 TB/PAModerate confidence

Pitcher Trends

Griffin Jax
Griffin Jax
Tampa Bay Rays · 8 starts
SP
Strikeouts6.0/start
Hits allowed4.6/start
5+ Strikeouts — 4 of last 64 or fewer Hits Allowed — 3 of last 6
24% K rate
Per-start form only — opponent lineup, park, and pitch count aren't modeled.

Player Trends

Ronald Acuna Jr.
Ronald Acuna Jr.
Atlanta Braves · 0.341 hit rate · 0.591 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L108 / 10L2516 / 25
Hit rate is up 75% over his prior baseline, with hits in 8 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 16%.
Sean Murphy
Sean Murphy
Atlanta Braves · 0.160 hit rate · 0.400 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L106 / 10L2511 / 21
On-base rate is up 68% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 6 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 28%.
Richie Palacios
Richie Palacios
Tampa Bay Rays · 0.185 hit rate · 0.630 TB/PA
Heating up
recent games · 1+ hit
L54 / 5L105 / 10L2514 / 253-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is up 127% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 7 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 11%.
Matt Olson
Matt Olson
Atlanta Braves · 0.111 hit rate · 0.133 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L105 / 10L2514 / 252-game hit streak
Total bases per PA is down 71% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 10 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 29%.
Jonny DeLuca
Jonny DeLuca
Tampa Bay Rays · 0.114 hit rate · 0.200 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L51 / 5L105 / 10L2515 / 25
Hit rate is down 54% over his prior baseline, with hits in 3 of his last 8 games.
Ozzie Albies
Ozzie Albies
Atlanta Braves · 0.136 hit rate · 0.250 TB/PA
Cooling off
recent games · 1+ hit
L52 / 5L106 / 10L2516 / 25
Hit rate is down 38% over his prior baseline, with hits in 6 of his last 10 games.

Players Positioned to Succeed

78
Yandy Diaz
Yandy Diaz
1+ Hit
Tampa Bay Rays
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
77
Ronald Acuna Jr.
Ronald Acuna Jr.
1+ Hit
Atlanta Braves
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
77
Chandler Simpson
Chandler Simpson
1+ Hit
Tampa Bay Rays
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
76
Drake Baldwin
Drake Baldwin
1+ Hit
Atlanta Braves
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Elevated recent strikeout rate
75
Junior Caminero
Junior Caminero
1+ Hit
Tampa Bay Rays
Why it stands out
Strong recent plate-appearance volume
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted
72
Jonathan Aranda
Jonathan Aranda
1+ Hit
Tampa Bay Rays
Why it stands out
Recent contact results are improving
Main risk
Lineup not yet posted

Expected Game Shape

UncertainLow confidence

Probable-starter data is incomplete, so the shape is hard to call. Rays bring stronger recent momentum. Braves bring more power.

Early edge Rays Driver Unclear without matched starters Volatility Elevated
  • At least one probable starter could not be matched to stored data.
  • Rays are trending up; Braves are trending down.

Storylines to Watch

Does Braves' power tilt the game?
Braves bring a clearly stronger extra-base profile into this matchup.
Rays power pct 33 vs Braves 80
Can Matt Olson snap out of it?
Matt Olson has cooled off. Total bases per PA is down 71% over his prior baseline, with hits in 5 of his last 10 games. His strikeout rate has climbed to 29%.
0.111 hit rate · 0.133 TB/PA · 0.224 hit rate · 0.462 TB/PA
Is Ronald Acuna Jr. the one to watch?
Ronald Acuna Jr. enters as Braves' hottest bat. Hit rate is up 75% over his prior baseline, with hits in 8 of his last 10 games. He has trimmed his strikeout rate to 16%.
0.341 hit rate · 0.591 TB/PA · 0.195 hit rate · 0.340 TB/PA
Based on plate appearances before 2026-09-09, with today's posted lineups when available. Injuries, weather, bullpen availability, and park factors are not yet included.