Atlanta Braves: What you need to know for tonight’s game

The Atlanta Braves are first in the NL East and things are continuing to heat up as they kick off a short home series.

From Ronald Acuna Jr‘s highly anticipated home debut to the addition of more home run power from Jose Bautista, here’s everything you need to know before tonight’s Atlanta Braves game.

1. Can The Braves Momentum Build?

The Braves swept the New York Mets in dominating fashion earlier this week, outscoring the Mets 21-2 over three games. They currently sit on a five game win streak and are now home to host the San Francisco Giants who have a 16-15 win-loss record.

For this three-game series, the Giants are expected to start Chris Stratton, Ty Blach, and Andrew Suarez on the mound. Mike Foltynewicz will take the mound for game one for the Braves. In his last start, Foltynewicz went six innings allowing only one run while striking out six against the Phillies.

The question now is if the Braves can continue their hot streak or at least bring enough to win the series.

Last season, the Braves had a 4-3 W-L record against the Giants. This season, the Giants loaded up some heavy hitting veterans in Andrew McCutchen and Evan Longoria. However, the Braves now feature a hot-hitting young core that features Ozzie Albies and Acuna; add that with guys like Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis.

There is another guy joining the party tonight as well:

2. Jose Bautista Makes Braves Debut

If you’ve been living under a rock (or missed Fred’s report from earlier) it may be news to you that Jose Bautista has been in Triple A for the Atlanta Braves trying to make a comeback. Bautista, after not getting signed by a team to a major league contract this off-season, has been trying to prove the doubters that he has some left in the tank.

He also has been making the transition to return to playing at third.

On Friday, the Braves announced they were calling up Bautista after not appearing in the lineup on Thursday for Gwinnett.

The Braves also announced the lineup for the game with Bautista starting. He will hit fifth in the lineup behind Markakis.

With the Front Office wanting for some home run power and immediate impact, along with Bautista having something to prove, it will be interesting… especially since he’s actually not in the lineup position to protect Freddie Freeman as was expected.

3. Homecoming For Ronald Acuna Jr.

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Bautista isn’t the only one making a special debut tonight as Ronald Acuña will be making his HOME debut. Acuña was called up on the road when the Braves were in Cincinnati so this will be his first game at SunTrust Park.

The 20-year-old prospect is hitting .382 with two homers and 13 total hits. Against the Mets on Thursday, Acuna launched a rocket into the second deck and it was glorious!

I hope someone gets to ask Bautista for his opinion on Acuña – things that like are interesting to me when successful guys give their thoughts on a kid expected to also be successful.

4. May The 4th Be With You

All this is going down on Star Wars Day plus Star Wars festivities to draw a big crowd! In fact, they announced earlier today that it will be a sold-out crowd for tonight’s game.

The Braves are doing a special giveaway, handing out an Ozzie Calrissian bobblehead to the first 20,000 fans. Also for those that bought the special Star Wars package will get a cool Darth Vader snapback hat.

Next: There's More Going On Before Tonight's Game

So will the Braves continue the streak and will Bautista get a chance to flip his bat in his first game as a Braves? We’ll find out tonight when the Braves take on the Giants at 7:35 pm ET.