8/22 News, Links, Discussion: Braves-Nationals, Chipper Update, Graham’s Outing
August 22, 2012 at 1:20 pm by David Lee under Atlanta Braves
Braves lineup: Martin Prado (LF), Reed Johnson (CF), Jason Heyward (RF), Chipper Jones (3B), Freddie Freeman (1B), David Ross (C), Tyler Pastornicky (2B), Paul Janish (SS), Kris Medlen (P).
Nationals lineup: Jayson Werth (R, RF), Bryce Harper (L, CF), Ryan Zimmerman (R, 3B), Michael Morse (R, LF), Adam LaRoche (L, 1B), Ian Desmond (R, SS), Danny Espinosa (S, 2B), Kurt Suzuki (R, C), Ross Detwiler (B: R, T: L, P).
Game 3 vs. Nationals
It comes down to hoping to avoid a series sweep as the Braves lost 4-1 on Tuesday.
The Nationals will start Ross Detwiler in the series finale. Detwiler has a 3.25 ERA and 4.28 xFIP in 122 innings this season, using a solid 52.8% ground ball rate for his success. He won’t get a lot of strikeouts – 14.9% – but he avoids walks and home runs at a very good rate.
Also, the Braves can’t make the excuse of facing a soft-tossing lefty, as Detwiler ranges 90-94 on the fastball with sink. He’ll throw a slider to left-handed batters and a changeup to right-handed batters, but the sinking fastball is overwhelmingly his go-to pitch
Kris Medlen is riding high right now, coming off his first career complete-game shutout with no walks and six strikeouts against the Padres. However, like Paul Maholm a night ago, this will be Medlen’s first test against a contending team since joining Atlanta’s rotation.
Game time is 7:05. Atlanta: SportSouth. Washington: MASN.
MLB.com preview
STATS preview
More Links
Braves.com recap for Tuesday’s loss.
AJC quotes following Tuesday’s loss. Paul Maholm against Jesus Flores: “It wasn’t even supposed to be a strike or anywhere closer to a strike. I was just trying to throw a cutter in and go back down and away and I hung the pitch, and he obviously hit it well enough to get it out.”
Chipper Jones sat out Tuesday’s game with usual soreness. He is expected back in the lineup today.
The Braves will play the minor leaguers again March 30 next year, but this time at Mississippi’s park.
Braves prospect J.R. Graham threw six one-hit innings for Double-A Mississippi on Tuesday. Graham has a 3.41 ERA in 34.1 innings since being promoted from Single-A Advanced Lynchburg, where he had a 2.63 ERA and 68 strikeouts to 17 walks in 102.2 innings.
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Tis the season where being a Braves fan really becomes painful, the annual september / october heartache.
CAC GUYS: Who is in control of the @capitalavenueclub “Troll” account? Is that Peter?
Yes, that’s always been Peter’s account.
Yes, that’s always been Peter’s account.
Wow… what a fucking lineup……………………………… We lose, catch you guys tomorrow. :(
I’d be willing to bet that lineup does better than either of the ones they’ve used the past 2 nights. It’s time to start looking for suitors for McCann and Uggla this offseason.
Uh…. ok I just noticed the lineup for tonight. Is Frediot just throwing in the towel? I can understand sitting McCann against a lefty, even Uggla though I think he should play through his struggles since Pastornicky isn’t the answer. But BOURN AS WELL?? WTF, are they giving up?
Bourn vs LHP: .280 .341 .413
Bourn last 14 days: .277 .404 .404
He better be tired or hurt because this needs to be treated as a playoff game. Just another example of how Fredi is a fucking imbecile.
Bourn did get hit really hard in the elbow by a fast ball last night. I kinda figured he might miss tonight.
Ah I missed that.
Oh dear, this looks pitiful, but as the guy pointed out above, things can’t be any worse than they have been the last 2 nights. Its the wild card now and they have to get a grip and focus on that to ensure the same fuck ups don’t happen again. I understand everyone’s frustration with the hitting but the criticism of McCann is a bit harsh, I am an Uggla fan but i am struglling to put up a case for him at the moment, its looking like money badly spent.
Yep. Infante trade is looking worse and worse as Uggla’s miraculous 2nd half turnaround is becoming less likely. I agree with you on McCann. He should get a little more grace period than Struggla; however, I hope Wren doesn’t sign him to a big contract at the end of the year.
Uggla for Infante/Dunn will always be a great trade. The extension is the problem.
What’s with all the lineup hate? Yea Bourn is out, but frankly I’d rather have Pastornicky and Ross over McCann and Uggla, and Reed Johnson rakes lefties. Shoot, might as well run this one out there everyday……
So you would like to sit our 5.2 WAR center fielder?
Only when his elbow is sore.
If he’s feeling good enough to come in as a defensive substitution and subsequently stay in for an at bat, then he’s healthy enough to start. These games against the Nats should be looked at as having post-season level importance. Fredi should have sat him against the Giants.
“If he’s feeling good enough to come in as a defensive substitution and subsequently stay in for an at bat, then he’s healthy enough to start.”
I’m not so sure your assertion is correct.
Great talk. You’ve added so much to the discourse.
I would like to move Prado to second, Johnson to left, Bourn to center, and that would me everyday lineup, with Ross catching at present.
Personally, I’m more concerned with McCann at this point. Only because I’ve given up on Uggla. McCann has struggled for much of the year. It’s no secret that September and October are his worse months in production. In his career, his OPS, wRC, ISO, wOBA, etc are worse in September than any other month. I know it isn’t September, but he has started this slide already.
Let’s hope that he and Uggla have a strong finish. There is no doubt they would make our lineup more potent.