May 20th, 2013 at 8:58 PM
By Cody FieldsThe Atlanta Braves confirmed everyone's expectations and worst fears when they announced Eric O'Flaherty will have Tommy John surgery.
Dr. James Andrews examined O'Flaherty on Monday and will perform the procedure. Andrews also performed the ligament replacement surgery on Jonny Venters last week.
O'Flaherty had a 2.50 ERA in 19 appearances this season.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 20th, 2013 at 6:01 PM
By Cody FieldsThe Atlanta Braves host the Minnesota Twins for the first time since 1991 in the first of a three-game series.
Twins:
1. Brian Dozier, 2B
2. Joe Mauer, C
3. Justin Morneau, 1B
4. Josh Willingham, LF
5. Trevor Plouffe, 3B
6. Chris Parmalee, RF
7. Pedro Florimon, SS
8. Aaron Hicks, CF
9. Kevin Correia, P
Braves:
1. Andrelton Simmons, SS
2. Jason Heyward, RF
3. Justin Upton, LF
4. Freddie Freeman, 1B
5. Gerald Laird, C
6. Dan Uggla, 2B
7. Juan Francisco, 3B
8. B.J. Upton, CF
9. Julio Teheran, P
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 20th, 2013 at 4:12 PM
By Cody FieldsThe Atlanta Braves look to continue their three-game winning streak when the Minnesota Twins make their first trip that counts to Turner Field.
Other than a Spring Training in 2011, the last time the Twins were in Atlanta was for the Braves' Game 5 win of the 1991 World Series. The last time the teams met was in 2010, and all nine times they have met have been in Minnesota.
The Braves, who own a 4-5 all-time record against the Twins, are going in the exact opposite direction as their counterparts for the series. The Twins just finished a 2-7 homestand, while Atlanta swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series over the weekend.
Julio Teheran will attempt to keep his streak of three runs or fewer allowed in four straight starts going. During said streak, he has thrown 25 1/3 innings with a 14-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
That doesn't mean the Braves aren't without some slumps. Tim Hudson currently owns a 5.12 ERA this season and has given up 11 runs over his last two starts. Juan Francisco has also struck out in seven consecutive at-bats and in nine of his last 10.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 20th, 2013 at 8:49 AM
By Cody FieldsThe Atlanta Braves bullpen is riddled with injuries, but if they keep up their current pace, there is nothing to worry about.
Jonny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty are gone for the year with Tommy John surgery. Luis Ayala has been on the disabled list since late April with anxiety disorder. Cristhian Martinez was moved to the DL with shoulder problems to make room for Ayala on the roster. Jordan Walden, though he should be back soon, has his own shoulder issues.
But still, the Atlanta bullpen leads Major Leagues with a 2.65 ERA, 16 points lower than the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Of course, it starts with starters going deep into games. Braves starting pitchers are averaging slightly more than six innings per start, leaving the bullpen with essentially two setup men and Craig Kimbrel.
This dominance was evident over the weekend in their series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In three games, the bullpen threw just eight innings and gave up one run, a homer given up by O'Flaherty when his elbow was hurting.
Read more... Join the Conversation... May 19th, 2013 at 10:47 PM
By Cody FieldsThe Atlanta Braves have made their tough roadtrip a distant memory after staging a late-inning comeback for the third straight night, taking a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers to complete a three-game sweep at Turner Field.
Contrary to Friday and Saturday's wins, the Braves actually won a game without hitting a homer, instead opting for a combination of small ball and timely hitting in a four-run eighth inning.
Kenley Jansen, who gave up back-to-back homers in the Braves win Saturday, ended the threat with two on in the seventh inning by striking out Justin Upton, but the eighth inning resulted in him taking a loss when he gave up a single to Freddie Freeman and a walk to Brian McCann.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly then saw fit to bring in closer Brandon League, who didn't fair much better. Andrelton Simmons loaded the bases when he reached on Juan Uribe's error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. A pinch-hitting Gerald Laird tied the game with an RBI-single, and Ramiro Pena drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly. Chris Johnson added another run with his single before Jordan Schafer squeezed home Laird.
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