(Photo credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images)

After a disappointing 86-loss season a year ago, the Atlanta Braves were optimistic about improving in 2026. More than a third of the way through the year, though, Atlanta's start to the campaign has been historic.

Ahead of their series-opening road game against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, the Braves (38-19) own the best record in the majors and have won 15 series through 57 games -- the second-most in franchise history. The club's 1897 team, then located in Boston, had 16 series wins after 57 games.

Looking to help prolong the team's dominance, Atlanta's Grant Holmes (3-2, 3.78 ERA) will make his 11th start of the season on Friday. Holmes struck out 10 batters on Saturday, allowing two runs across five innings in a 2-0 home loss to the Washington Nationals.

'I thought Grant did a nice job,' Atlanta manager Walt Weiss said postgame. 'Certainly, we'll take that every time, giving up two solo homers and that's it. You walk two guys and punch out 10 and lose, it was just a weird one.'

In four career appearances (two starts) against the Reds, Holmes is 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA.

The Braves, who lead the majors in RBIs (293) and hits (507), posted their fifth double-digit scoring output on Thursday in a series-clinching 10-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a grand slam while Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies also went deep.

Cincinnati, meanwhile, enters play winners in five of its past seven after a forgettable start to the month of May. The Reds had dropped 13 of 17 prior to the recent hot stretch.

In search of their first home series win against the Braves since April 23-25, 2019, the Reds will send Chris Paddack (0-6, 6.86 ERA) to the mound in the opener. Paddack, who was released by the Miami Marlins on May 10, has seen a slight improvement in a pair of starts since joining Cincinnati, pitching to a 4.50 ERA.

Last time out, the 30-year-old right-hander yielded three runs across five innings, striking out five and walking three in an 8-1 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

'I think what he's showing is that there's something to like there,' Reds manager Terry Francona said of Paddack. 'It was just that a couple of times, he got ahead 0-2 and left pitches that had way too much of the plate (on Saturday).'

For the eighth-year veteran, playing on his fourth team since the beginning of the 2025 season, Paddack is hoping for a career revival with Cincinnati.

'I try to stay in the present,' Paddack said. 'I don't look too far ahead, definitely don't look at the past. It's frustrating, being 0-6, still searching for that first win. Mentally it can be draining, but the coaches are patting me on the back, the players are there for me. I believe in myself.'

Paddack is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA in five career appearances (four starts) against the Braves. He pitched at Atlanta with the Marlins on April 15, allowing two runs in 4 2/3 frames, striking out four in a 6-3 loss.

--Field Level Media