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4th series of the year against the Braves
4-5 so far (after starting 3-0) with two series to go after this one.
The last time we saw the Braves was coming out of the AS break when we were in 2nd place a game ahead of them.
They proceeded to sweep us and then finish July with an 18-8 mark while we staggered through at 7-18 and pretty much killed the season.
IOW, they’re hot, we’re not.
All of which finds us 11 games behind them as we head into this weekend series at CitiField
Braves are 3rd in the league at scoring runs and, despite numerous pitching injuries, still better than average (6th best) and still better than us at preventing them.
Those pitching injuries mean that we’ll be facing three starters this weekend who have made a combined total of 8 starts for them this year ... although I don't know if that's a good thing. One is a reclamation project from the medical scrap-heap; one a refugee from the Cub scrap-heap; and one a middle-reliever just pressed into service. So naturally those three are averaging 6+ IP/start and have combined for a sub-2.00 ERA over 50 innings
And if any of those three re-treads fails I’m sure they know some peanut vendor from the stands with a decent arm or will find some teenager on a beach in Curaco with a nice release on his stone-skipping technique and have one or both of them ready in time to shut us down over the weekend.
All night games is the word for this weekend
- Friday - 7:10: Paul Maholm faces Matt Harvey in his CF debut
The left-handed Maholm was dealt at the deadline to Atlanta from the Cubs where he was having a decent season [9-6, 3.74, 1.24]. His one start for the Braves so far continued that decent but not great streak when he took a loss vs Houston giving up 3 runs on 6 hits w/8 Ks over 7 innings.
- Saturday - 7:10: Righty Kris Medlen faces the returning corpse of Johan Santana
Medlen was in their pen all year - and most of the time since 2009 for that matter - but has taken a turn in the rotation the last two times around, holding the opposition (MIami & Houston) in both games to just 1 run although lasting just 5 innings each time.
- Sunday - 8:05 ESPN game: The once-again thriving corpse of Ben Sheets squares off against Jonathon Niese
Sheets, I’m sure you’ll remember, started against us in his first game since like we were typing on the CPF with Commodore 64s. It was right after the ASG and held NYM bats to 2 hits over 6 innings. Well he’s now started 5 games total for the Braves and has pretty much repeated that trick, holding the opposition to one run or less in 4 of them and now sits at 4-1 with a 1.41 ERA
And I don’t want to say that they’ve got an edge in the pen or anything, but while the Braves’ staff as a whole has given up 64 fewer runs this season than that of the Mets, the gap in the bullpen is responsible for ... ALL OF IT !!
From the 7th inning on, the Braves have given up a total of 114 allowed, NYM pitchers have allowed 179 (there's your 64 run difference right there plus one) . Another way of looking at that difference is just over 25% of all runs allowed in the 7th inning or later vs 35%
Closer Craig Kimbrel’s numbers alone are sick and getting sicker to the point where I don’t even know which one to highlight: 43 IPs, 75 Ks, 11 BBs, 17 Hits, 6 ER
Leading up to him they’ll have the usual anti-NYM arsenal of three LHPs to fill in the gaps: Johnny Venters, Eric O’Flaherty, and rookie Luis Avilan
From the right side they’ll go with the likes of veteran Chad Durbin or scrubs like Cory Gearrin, or Christhian (no, I didn’t mis-spell that) Martinez who I’m sure will throw up a bunch of 1-2-3 innings
The lineup features the (mostly) usual suspects:
C - Brian McCann
After a slow start, his offense has picked up as the year has gone on. Now slashing at .241/.316/.447 w/18 HRs
1B - Freddie Freeman
Also having a better 2nd half than 1st -- .279/.349/.461 w/13 HRs
2B - Dan Uggla
The Sultan of Streakiness still reigns, a decent 1st half gave way to a .160 BA in June and .115 (9 for 78) in July!! -- but better so far in August and still gets walks even when not hitting. He had 22 hits in June & July combined but 61 walks. I didn't think that was possible. Hell, at that rate you'd think it would be smart to pitch to him every time but might that strategy could backfire big time.
SS - Paul Janish
An emergency trade from the Reds just as we were playing them last and their other short-stops were falling down by the minute.
Never much of a bat (including now - 16/81 w/4 2Bs w/Atlanta) but an excellent glove
3B - Chipper Jones with the occasional dose of Juan Francisco
Older, slower, and takes more time off ... but still dangerous -- .316/.395/.508
RF - Jason Heyward
Bouncing back from his sophomore slump season in 2011 - is on pace for 60+ XBHs over a full season
CF - Michael Bourne - Slowed down a bit from his hot 1st half, although still a good season overall [.289/.347/.424].
LF - Martin Prado most often [.296/.358/.415], but maybe lefty-swinging Cro-Magnon Eric Hinske vs our RHPs
Injuries:
Brandon Beachy - out for season
Matt Diaz - thumb injury, will miss series
Tommy Hanson - back strain, will miss series
Jair Jurrgens - groin, will miss series
Andrelton Simmons - pinky, will miss series
Jack Wilson - pinky, could be back for this series
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