8/31 News, Links, Discussion: Braves-Phillies, Talking September
August 31, 2012 at 1:34 pm by David Lee under Atlanta Braves
Update (4:40p): Jack Wilson has been released. It’s not a surprising move, one that was considered a strong possibility when Andrelton Simmons was activated from the disabled list. With this news, it could mean Simmons’ return is sooner rather than later, but there’s still no word on that. It also means a spot on the 40-man roster opened and the count is at 38.
Braves lineup: Michael Bourn (CF), Martin Prado (LF), Jason Heyward (RF), Chipper Jones (3B), Freddie Freeman (1B), Brian McCann (C), Dan Uggla (2B), Paul Janish (SS), Mike Minor (P).
Game 1 vs. Phillies
There was once a time when this was expected to be a big series down the stretch between the two division leaders of the NL East. How things change.
Although the Phillies are playing a little better lately, they’re 62-69. After sweeping the Nationals in surprising fashion, their most recent series was losing two of three to the Mets.
They will send Roy Halladay to the mound in the opener. Halladay has a 3.88 ERA and 3.45 xFIP over 125.1 innings, perhaps finally showing some signs of age in a season that has seen injury and rough outings. His strikeout percentage remains at 20% with a solid 4% walk rate, and he isn’t giving up home runs, but he’s giving up more fly balls and line drives.
Minor continues to pitch well, allowing three runs over 6.2 innings against the Giants last time out, including no walks and five strikeouts. His numbers are continuing their slow return to normalcy, currently sporting a 4.71 ERA and 4.48 xFIP.
Game time is 7:35. Atlanta: Fox Sports South, Peachtree TV. Philadelphia: CSN.
MLB.com preview
STATS preview
More Links
Mark Bowman writes on the Braves hoping to avoid another September collapse.
David O’Brien does the same.
Anuj Panday of Tomahawk Take looks at different strike zone plots for hitters in the Braves lineup.
Andrew Sisson of Brave Decisions looks at possible September call-ups for the Braves.
Around the NL East
Stephen Strasburg was told he has two or three more starts left. The Nationals won last night to make it a 5.5-game lead over the Braves.
Jimmy Rollins was benched for not hustling again.
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Maybe a dumb question, but with the minor league teams wrapping up over the next few days, what will Braves do for Simmons rehab assignment?
Pretty sure they said something about getting rehab games in one of the minor league team’s playoff games. Not sure which team though.
Weird game. All 5 of the Braves’ runs came on homers, Kimbrel blows a save. And now the morons on the AJC board will start whining that “Kimbrel sucks!”
Kimbrel has allowed only 3 HRs this season. All 3 were solos, all 3 were in 1-run or tie games.
Not that he is picking when to give ‘em up, but damn he really picks the wrong time to give ‘em up.