ATLANTA -- Michael Kopech was on the mound for the White Sox during the start of Atlanta’s 9-0 win Friday night at Truist Park to begin the second half of the 2023 season.

But the right-hander couldn’t really provide an accurate analysis of Major League Baseball’s best team.

“I don’t know if I can give you an answer to that,” Kopech said following a bit of an exasperated laugh. “They didn’t have to swing the bat very much today.”

Kopech (3-8) didn’t get out of the first inning against the Braves (61-29) in his first start since June 27 in Anaheim after dealing with right shoulder inflammation that forced him to go on the 15-day injured list.

Call it rustiness on this night, after previously pitching through some soreness. But Friday’s effort marked the fourth straight start featuring the same variety for Kopech, with any sort of true execution and strike-throwing absent from his trip to the mound.

“This game is a game where you have to be able to go out there and be consistent and take what you do from one to the next,” Kopech said. “I wasn’t even able to take one pitch to the next today. Put us in a hole.”

“He threw his bullpens. He was ready to pitch,” White Sox manager Pedro Griol said of Kopech. “He just couldn’t find his command. He felt good, which is a good sign for us. He was strong. Just about fine-tuning his mechanics and getting back to work with [pitching coach] Ethan [Katz].”

Ronald Acuña Jr. opened things for the Braves by drawing a six-pitch walk off Kopech and followed with his 42nd stolen base of the season. Ozzie Albies was then hit by a pitch, while Austin Riley coaxed a five-pitch walk to load the bases with nobody out.

Matt Olson unloaded them quickly, as the left-handed slugger launched a 1-0 four-seam fastball for a grand slam and a quick 4-0 advantage. With the combination of Charlie Morton (10-6) on the mound and the White Sox offense hitting too many balls on the ground, four was more than enough.

“Yeah, I mean, great at-bats, especially after a long break like that,” Olson said. “It was pretty clear [Kopech] was struggling to find the zone a little bit early on. So you know, especially guys there at the top -- Ronald and Ozzie and Riley -- [they] have been working great at-bats. Not afraid to take a walk when [hits] don't come.”

“They had one good swing,” said Kopech, referring again to his wildness taking the Braves' potent bats out of their hands. “Difference-maker for my outing, that grand slam. Olson is a good hitter, he’s already got 30. I’m sure he’ll continue to have a good year.”

At the end of five innings, Morton was at 57 pitches. At the end of six, he had thrown 67. Kopech worked just two-thirds of an inning, before giving way to Touki Toussaint, with a mere 14 of his 38 pitches going for strikes. He walked four and didn’t record a strikeout.

Over Kopech’s past four starts, he has issued 20 walks against 12 strikeouts and allowed 10 earned runs in 13 innings. He has thrown 328 pitches in that stretch, beginning on June 16 in Seattle, but just 170 strikes.

“Yeah, it’s finding my groove again,” said Kopech, who threw every day during the All-Star break and felt good. “Getting back to being confident in what I can do. Not that I’ve lost confidence in what I’m able to do, but right now the results aren’t there. Once I get back in the groove, I’m sure the results will show up. I’m in a little bit of a rut.

“Obviously we wanted to come back after the break and set a tone. Change the pace a little bit. I wasn’t able to do that. Touki came in and picked me up. I hate that I have to keep getting picked up this season, come in and cover five innings like that. It’s impressive.”

Friday’s setback was the third straight loss for the White Sox, who fell to a season-worst 38-55. But more than worrying about .500 or the dream of American League Central contention, they have to get an integral future piece like Kopech back on track.

“I’m sure there are some things in there to clean up,” Kopech said. “Right now, I wasn’t executing. I wasn’t consistent.”