The Tampa Bay Rays play the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, September 9 at 7:15 p.m. ET at Truist Park. Griffin Jax starts for Tampa Bay against Reynaldo Lopez, a day after the Rays won 7-1.
| First pitch | Wednesday, September 9, 7:15 p.m. ET |
| TV | Regional coverage in both markets, MLB.TV out of market |
| Rays starter | Griffin Jax, RHP (6-10) |
| Braves starter | Reynaldo Lopez, RHP (4-3) |
| Records | Rays 86-58, Braves 85-60 |
| Series | Rays lead after Tuesday’s 7-1 win. Series finishes Thursday |
What Time Is Rays vs. Braves and What Channel?
7:15 p.m. ET at Truist Park. Regional coverage in both markets and MLB.TV out of market. Martin Perez closes the series Thursday.
The Best Matchup on the Board
This is the only game Wednesday between two teams that both lead their divisions. Tampa Bay is 86-58 and on top of the AL East, Atlanta is 85-60 and four and a half clear in the NL East, and they are separated by a game and a half in the overall standings.
Tuesday belonged to the Rays, a 7-1 win behind Freddy Peralta, who moved to 8-11. AJ Smith-Shawver took the loss for Atlanta.
What It Means for the Race
Both clubs are playing for seeding rather than survival. Tampa Bay leads New York by four in the East and is trying to hold onto a first round bye. Atlanta at 85-60 is chasing Milwaukee and Los Angeles for the top two seeds in the National League, sitting four and a half back of the Brewers.
The interesting wrinkle is run differential. Atlanta has allowed 553 runs, the fewest in the National League. Tampa Bay has allowed 601 while scoring 654, a much narrower margin than an 86-58 record usually implies.
Related
AL East standings · NL East standings · MLB playoff race tracker
The Bottom Line
7:15 p.m. ET Wednesday in Atlanta. Jax against Reynaldo Lopez, the only Wednesday game between two division leaders, with seeding on the line for both.