9/16 News, Links, Discussion: Braves-Nationals, McCann Update
September 16, 2012 at 3:14 pm by David Lee under Atlanta Braves
Game 3 vs. Nationals
The Braves won 5-4 on Saturday as Andrelton Simmons was hit by a pitch to bring home the go-ahead run in the eighth. It’s just the latest example of the Braves finding new ways to win.
The Braves will go for a series sweep against the Nationals tonight after going 5-10 against them coming into today. Mike Minor is on the mound for Atlanta, sporting a 4.42 ERA and 4.54 FIP in 161 innings. He pitched 5.2 shutout innings on two hits with eight strikeouts against the Brewers last time out, increasing his K% to 19.9%.
Gio Gonzalez will go for the Nationals, recording a 2.93 ERA and 2.84 FIP with a 25.6% strikeout rate, including a career-best 9.1% walk rate. Gonzalez is fourth in baseball in fWAR at 4.9, including the second-best FIP in MLB behind teammate Stephen Strasburg.
Game time is 8:05. Nationally: ESPN.
MLB.com preview
STATS preview
More Links
Braves.com recap for Saturday’s win.
AJC quotes following Saturday’s win. Fredi Gonzalez: “It’s important because our eyes are still on trying to get the division because the wild card is so hard and so difficult with the one-game playoff. But at the very least if we don’t catch them because they’ve got a good club you could hang your hat, and say, we may meet them after the first round, the play-in playoff game. if it ends right now, we’d play them. and it’s always good to play good with your opponent the last time you’ve seen them.”
Brian McCann is day to day with a right hamstring strain. He is expected back Monday or Tuesday.
Another example of how good Craig Kimbrel is.
Carroll Rogers with some facts on Kris Medlen’s strikeout numbers.
Another September collapse story, this time from Buster Olney in his latest Insider post.
Eno Sarris of FanGraphs writes on the Braves’ arms having the ability to beat the Nationals (for ESPN Insider).
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It doesn’t really matter, but someone has their facts wrong in the Kimbrel article. Buddy Carlyle, who is.. in Japan/Braves Minor League Affiliate/somewhere that doesn’t matter… struck out 3 on 9 pitches a few years ago.
No, they have their facts correct. You just need to read more carefully. They say Kimbrel would have become “the first pitcher in Braves history to throw just nine pitches while striking out the only three batters he faced in a game.” In the game when Carlyle had his “immaculate inning,” he pitched eight innings.
Actually, they do have a fact wrong. It was Danny Espinosa who fouled off pitch 9, not Ian Desmond.
^^ Yep.. what he said.RTS my brother… RTS…