In World Series rematch, Wright hasn't lost a step

ATLANTA -- It’s incredible to think how far Kyle Wright has come over the past 10 months. From filling a mop-up role in the World Series to sharing the MLB lead in wins, the Braves right-hander has made tremendous progress. And on Friday, the Astros got a glimpse of the complete ascent.

As Wright helped the Braves extend their recent surge with a 6-2 win over the Astros on Friday night at Truist Park, he continued to benefit from confidence-boosting experience gained while facing this same team during last year’s World Series.

“He's been phenomenal for us this year,” Braves third baseman Austin Riley said. “I knew it was in there. It was just a matter of getting his feet wet. He just had to build the confidence, and you're seeing that right now.”

There is a lot of confidence surrounding the Braves, who have looked like World Series contenders while winning 10 of their last 11 games, including four of the past five against the Mets and Astros. This marked the first time they played the Astros since last year’s Fall Classic.

Riley hit his 31st homer of the season, and Dansby Swanson highlighted a three-hit night with a double during the three-run sixth. But the most encouraging development came from Wright, who allowed just two runs over six innings. This marked his first start since feeling some right arm fatigue following his Aug. 10 outing at Fenway Park.

“I felt way better and a lot stronger,” Wright said. “I felt like my velo was back. I was back up to 96 with my sinker and it didn’t really get below 92, which is where I want to be.”

With 15 wins, Wright is now tied with the Astros’ Justin Verlander and the Dodgers’ Tony Gonsolin for the MLB lead. With approximately eight starts remaining, he has a chance to become the first Braves pitcher to win 20 games in a season since Russ Ortiz in 2003.

This certainly wasn’t expected, as Wright spent most of last year at the Triple-A level. But the talented hurler provided a glimpse of his potential when he helped the Braves win Game 4 of the World Series after coming out of the bullpen with one out and the bases loaded in the first inning. He allowed one inherited runner to score, and then surrendered just one more run during a 4 2/3-inning appearance.

“Looking back and seeing how big that was for my career, it’s a big reason for me pitching the way I am now,” Wright said. “But it’s a new year, so I didn’t look much into that, facing this team.”

Wright has performed like a frontline starter while posting a 3.14 ERA through 23 starts, far better than the 6.93 ERA he’d produced in the 14 career regular season starts completed before this year. He lasted five innings in just five of those 14 starts made before this season. He’s now completed six innings in 18 starts this year, one shy of Max Fried’s team-leading total.

Another example of how much Wright has improved came Friday, when the Astros tallied three hits, including Kyle Tucker’s leadoff homer, before the second out of the fifth inning. Jose Altuve brought Houston within one run with a two-out single. But instead of losing his composure, the 26-year-old hurler struck out Yuli Gurriel.

“It’s only three outs you need to get, but I think in years’ past, it felt like 20 in one inning,” Wright said. “Now you realize it’s just one out at a time.”

As the Braves continue their bid for a fifth straight division crown and a second straight World Series title, they leaned heavily on Ian Anderson, Bryce Elder and Kyle Muller last weekend against the Marlins, all of whom came up from Triple-A Gwinnett to make starts during the sweep.

Their efforts gave extra rest to Wright, Charlie Morton, Fried and Spencer Strider, who combined to produce a 1.82 ERA in their four starts this week.

“I think the starts those guys gave us [were] huge,” Wright said. “Allowing everybody to get a blow was important. I think it’s big being able to finish strong.”