The New York Yankees welcome the Atlanta Braves to Yankee Stadium on Sunday, August 9, with first pitch scheduled for 1:35 PM ET. Right-hander Cam Schlittler gets the ball for New York against Atlanta's Grant Holmes in what shapes up as a pivotal regular-season contest in the heart of the summer stretch. The game airs locally on YES Network and on radio via WFAN 660/101.9 FM, with Spanish-language coverage available on WADO 1280 and La Mejor 1600/1460/1130 AM.

Yankees vs. Braves: Starting Pitchers for August 9

Cam Schlittler draws the start for the Yankees. The young right-hander has been working his way into the big-league rotation, and Sunday's matchup against a legitimate National League opponent is a meaningful test. Schlittler will need to attack the strike zone early and keep the Braves offense off the bases to give New York a chance to work with the lineup.

Grant Holmes starts for Atlanta. Holmes brings his own challenges to the mound, and without a deep track record of head-to-head data against this Yankees lineup, the approach will be straightforward: make him work counts, get into the bullpen, and capitalize on mistakes.

Yankees Starting Lineup

• 1. Trent Grisham — CF
• 2. Ben Rice — DH
• 3. Heliot Ramos — LF
• 4. Luis García Jr. — 1B
• 5. Jazz Chisholm Jr. — 2B
• 6. Spencer Jones — RF
• 7. George Lombard Jr. — SS
• 8. Ryan McMahon — 3B
• 9. Austin Wells — C

Keys to Watch Against Atlanta

Schlittler's Command Sets the Tone

Schlittler is the story Sunday. How he handles a professional Atlanta lineup will tell you a lot about where he stands as a contributor for this club. Walks and deep counts will put the defense under pressure quickly. Keeping the ball in the yard and getting weak contact in the middle innings is the formula.

Lineup Depth in the Bottom Third

George Lombard Jr., Ryan McMahon, and Austin Wells occupy the seven, eight, and nine spots. This is a lineup construction that asks those three to grind out at-bats and get on base for the top of the order. Wells behind the dish also plays a key game-management role working with Schlittler through the Braves lineup.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. as the Offensive Catalyst

Hitting fifth and playing second base, Chisholm is the kind of player who can flip a game's momentum in a single at-bat. If the lineup is clicking in front of him, Chisholm has the power and speed to do real damage. His energy at Yankee Stadium is worth watching every time he steps in the box.

Prediction

This one hinges almost entirely on Schlittler. If he gives the Yankees five solid innings and limits the crooked numbers, the lineup has enough in it — particularly with Ramos, García, and Chisholm in the middle of the order — to put runs on the board against Holmes. The Bronx crowd on a Sunday afternoon at Yankee Stadium is an advantage. Yankees win, 5-3.