Baldwin leads off as Braves face Giants in June makeup game
Drake Baldwin is leading off for the Atlanta Braves on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, in a Giants vs Braves makeup game at Truist Park. The contest reschedules a June 18 rainout as Atlanta chases an eighth straight win behind Bryce Elder, while former Brave Anthony Molina starts for San Francisco.
The matchup kicks off at 6:05 p.m. ET on a night when both clubs carry sharply different momentum into Cumberland, Georgia. Atlanta enters at 82-55 with a five-game NL East lead, riding a seven-game winning streak that included sweeps of the Dodgers and Rockies. San Francisco sits at 56-81 and has dropped four straight road games.
Key Takeaways
- Drake Baldwin leads off for Atlanta; Mike Yastrzemski bats ninth for San Francisco in the Aug. 31 makeup game.
- Bryce Elder (8-7, 3.95 ERA) starts for the Braves; Anthony Molina (1-0, 2.89 ERA), a former Atlanta pitcher, gets the ball for the Giants.
- The Braves aim for an eighth consecutive victory; the Giants are 4-1 against Atlanta this season despite their overall record.
- First pitch is 6:05 p.m. ET at Truist Park, with coverage on NBCSBA and BravesVision.
- After Monday, Atlanta heads to Washington while San Francisco opens a series in Pittsburgh.
Why is the Braves-Giants game being played in August?
Monday's contest is a makeup game from June 18, when rain washed out the original meeting at Truist Park. CBS Sports notes the delayed start gives both teams a chance to settle unfinished business deep in the 2026 regular season.
For Atlanta, the timing matters because the Braves are closing a seven-game homestand before a road trip to Washington. Battery Power reports lineup decisions like Baldwin leading off reflect tweaks aimed at keeping momentum at home, where Atlanta owns a 48-23 record—the best home mark in the majors.
Who is starting for the Giants and Braves?
Bryce Elder takes the mound for Atlanta. The right-hander is 8-7 with a 3.95 ERA, though Yahoo Sports notes he ranks near the bottom of MLB in velocity, chase rate, and whiff rate after battling knee soreness earlier in August. Five Giants hitters are batting above .400 against Elder with an OPS over .800, per Battery Power.
Anthony Molina starts for San Francisco in a storyline that adds extra intrigue to this Giants vs Braves rematch. The reliever-turned-starter was traded by Atlanta at the deadline and returns facing his former club. Covers intel cited by Yahoo Sports reports Molina has added nearly 1 mph to his fastball and increased spin on his pitch mix over the past year.
Can the Braves extend their winning streak against San Francisco?
Atlanta has won seven straight overall and six straight at Truist Park, but the Giants have been a stubborn opponent. San Francisco is 4-1 against the Braves this season and won both previous matchups in Atlanta, including the pair played in June before the rainout.
Yahoo Sports frames the game as a potential trap game—a makeup contest sandwiched between Atlanta's Dodgers sweep and looming divisional road games. San Francisco has scored six or more runs in four of its last five games, outpacing Atlanta's recent offensive output in several contests.
CBS Sports lists the Braves as -196 moneyline favorites, yet its projection model gives the Giants a 57% chance to cover the run line. For fans tracking oddball late-season schedule twists like this, more stories appear in our Bizarre News & Florida Man hub.
What time and where can you watch Giants vs Braves?
The makeup game begins at 6:05 p.m. ET at Truist Park. Television options include NBCSBA and BravesVision, with streaming available via MLB.TV and Fubo, according to CBS Sports and Yahoo Sports. Weather should cooperate, with temperatures in the 80s and no rain in the forecast.