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ATLANTA ( WOOD )
TORONTO ( DICKEY ) |
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| 929 | ATLANTA | +125 | Ov 8.5,+100 | +130 | Ov 8,-115 | | 930 | TORONTO | -135 | Un 8.5,-120 | -140 | Un 8,-105 |
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| All Games | 7-3 | +5.2 | 7-3 | 4.4 | 0.244 | 0.307 | 0.404 | 0.710 | 3.6 | 0.236 | 0.315 | 0.371 | 0.687 | | Road Games | 4-0 | +5.4 | 2-2 | 6.0 | 0.273 | 0.348 | 0.396 | 0.744 | 2.5 | 0.231 | 0.291 | 0.377 | 0.668 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 6-3 | +4.2 | 6-3 | 4.3 | 0.242 | 0.306 | 0.401 | 0.706 | 3.7 | 0.235 | 0.319 | 0.365 | 0.684 | | Past 7 Games | 4-3 | +1.3 | 6-1 | 4.0 | 0.236 | 0.294 | 0.429 | 0.723 | 4.7 | 0.250 | 0.336 | 0.429 | 0.765 | | Turf Games | 1-0 | +1.4 | 1-0 | 8.0 | 0.300 | 0.378 | 0.525 | 0.903 | 7.0 | 0.306 | 0.359 | 0.750 | 1.109 | | Day Games | 1-2 | -0.8 | 2-1 | 2.3 | 0.165 | 0.190 | 0.299 | 0.489 | 3.7 | 0.269 | 0.346 | 0.409 | 0.755 | | Interleague | 1-0 | +1.4 | 1-0 | 8.0 | 0.300 | 0.378 | 0.525 | 0.903 | 7.0 | 0.306 | 0.359 | 0.750 | 1.109 |
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| All Games | 4.4 | 0.244 | 0.307 | 10 | 332 | 81 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 0.404 | 42 | 30 | 66 | 7 | 63 | 8 | 1 | 14 | 7 | | Road Games | 6.0 | 0.273 | 0.348 | 4 | 139 | 38 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0.396 | 24 | 16 | 26 | 2 | 27 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | | Righty Starters | 4.3 | 0.242 | 0.306 | 9 | 297 | 72 | 14 | 3 | 9 | 0.401 | 38 | 27 | 59 | 5 | 53 | 8 | 1 | 12 | 6 |
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| All Games | 2.31 | 0.923 | 39 | 10 | 10 | 22 | 2 | 14 | 41 | 3-1 | 6 | 0 | 100% | | Road Games | 1.20 | 0.667 | 15 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 2-0 | 3 | 0 | 100% |
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| All Games | 5-6 | -2 | 6-4 | 5.6 | 0.238 | 0.304 | 0.403 | 0.706 | 4.6 | 0.242 | 0.324 | 0.423 | 0.747 | | Home Games | 1-4 | -4.3 | 2-3 | 4.8 | 0.232 | 0.304 | 0.421 | 0.725 | 4.8 | 0.238 | 0.328 | 0.401 | 0.729 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 2-0 | +2 | 2-0 | 9.0 | 0.310 | 0.355 | 0.521 | 0.876 | 5.0 | 0.257 | 0.333 | 0.500 | 0.833 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -4.2 | 3-3 | 5.0 | 0.217 | 0.291 | 0.404 | 0.696 | 5.4 | 0.243 | 0.330 | 0.423 | 0.752 | | Turf Games | 1-4 | -4.3 | 2-3 | 4.8 | 0.232 | 0.304 | 0.421 | 0.725 | 4.8 | 0.238 | 0.328 | 0.401 | 0.729 | | Day Games | 3-0 | +3.3 | 2-1 | 9.3 | 0.287 | 0.369 | 0.519 | 0.887 | 4.3 | 0.240 | 0.290 | 0.420 | 0.710 | | Interleague | 0-1 | -1.6 | 1-0 | 7.0 | 0.306 | 0.359 | 0.750 | 1.109 | 8.0 | 0.300 | 0.378 | 0.525 | 0.903 |
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| All Games | 5.6 | 0.238 | 0.304 | 11 | 370 | 88 | 19 | 0 | 14 | 0.403 | 56 | 35 | 82 | 4 | 65 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 9 | | Home Games | 4.8 | 0.232 | 0.304 | 5 | 164 | 38 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0.421 | 24 | 17 | 32 | 0 | 32 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 7 | | Lefty Starters | 9.0 | 0.310 | 0.355 | 2 | 71 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0.521 | 17 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
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| All Games | 4.23 | 1.200 | 38.3 | 19 | 18 | 29 | 5 | 17 | 40 | 1-3 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% | | Home Games | 4.00 | 1.389 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 3 | 8 | 18 | 0-2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
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| 4/6/2015 | TEHERAN(R) | @ MIAMI | ALVAREZ(R) | 2-1 | W | 140 | 7 ov | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | | 4/7/2015 | WOOD(L) | @ MIAMI | LATOS(R) | 12-2 | W | 130 | 7 un | O | 14 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 0 | | 4/8/2015 | MILLER(R) | @ MIAMI | KOEHLER(R) | 2-0 | W | 120 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 0 | | 4/10/2015 | STULTS(L) | NY METS | NIESE(L) | 5-3 | W | +105 | 7 un | O | 9 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 2 | | 4/11/2015 | TEHERAN(R) | NY METS | GEE(R) | 5-3 | W | -120 | 6.5 ov | O | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | | 4/12/2015 | WOOD(L) | NY METS | COLON(R) | 3-4 | L | -120 | 6.5 un | O | 7 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 | | 4/13/2015 | MILLER(R) | MIAMI | LATOS(R) | 3-2 | W | -105 | 7 ov | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1 | | 4/14/2015 | CAHILL(R) | MIAMI | KOEHLER(R) | 2-8 | L | +105 | 7.5 un | O | 8 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 1 | | 4/15/2015 | STULTS(L) | MIAMI | HAREN(R) | 2-6 | L | +120 | 7.5 un | O | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 1 | | 4/17/2015 | TEHERAN(R) | @ TORONTO | HUTCHISON(R) | 8-7 | W | 145 | 7.5 ov | O | 12 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 1 | | 4/18/2015 | WOOD(L) | @ TORONTO | DICKEY(R) | | | 4/19/2015 | MILLER(R) | @ TORONTO | NORRIS(L) | | | 4/21/2015 | CAHILL(R) | @ NY METS | NIESE(L) | | | 4/22/2015 | STULTS(L) | @ NY METS | GEE(R) | | | 4/23/2015 | TEHERAN(R) | @ NY METS | COLON(R) | | | 4/24/2015 | WOOD(L) | @ PHILADELPHIA | HARANG(R) | | | 4/25/2015 | | @ PHILADELPHIA | | |
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| 4/6/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | @ NY YANKEES | TANAKA(R) | 6-1 | W | 120 | 8 un | U | 6 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | | 4/8/2015 | DICKEY(R) | @ NY YANKEES | PINEDA(R) | 3-4 | L | 115 | 6.5 ov | O | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 2 | | 4/9/2015 | NORRIS(L) | @ NY YANKEES | SABATHIA(L) | 6-3 | W | -130 | 7 ov | O | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1 | | 4/10/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | @ BALTIMORE | NORRIS(R) | 12-5 | W | 105 | 8.5 ov | O | 16 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 1 | | 4/11/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | @ BALTIMORE | JIMENEZ(R) | 1-7 | L | 100 | 8 un | P | 3 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 0 | | 4/12/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | @ BALTIMORE | TILLMAN(R) | 10-7 | W | 105 | 8 un | O | 9 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 5 | 1 | | 4/13/2015 | DICKEY(R) | TAMPA BAY | ODORIZZI(R) | 1-2 | L | -130 | 8.5 ov | U | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 0 | | 4/14/2015 | NORRIS(L) | TAMPA BAY | ANDRIESE(R) | 2-3 | L | -145 | 8 ov | U | 8 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 0 | | 4/15/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | TAMPA BAY | RAMIREZ(L) | 12-7 | W | -135 | 8.5 ov | O | 13 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 8 | 1 | | 4/16/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | TAMPA BAY | ARCHER(R) | 2-4 | L | +100 | 8.5 un | U | 4 | 8 | 1 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 4/17/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | ATLANTA | TEHERAN(R) | 7-8 | L | -155 | 7.5 ov | O | 11 | 7 | 1 | 12 | 10 | 0 | | 4/18/2015 | DICKEY(R) | ATLANTA | WOOD(L) | | | 4/19/2015 | NORRIS(L) | ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | | | 4/21/2015 | BUEHRLE(L) | BALTIMORE | NORRIS(R) | | | 4/22/2015 | SANCHEZ(R) | BALTIMORE | JIMENEZ(R) | | | 4/23/2015 | HUTCHISON(R) | BALTIMORE | TILLMAN(R) | | | 4/24/2015 | DICKEY(R) | @ TAMPA BAY | | | | 4/25/2015 | | @ TAMPA BAY | | |
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| |  | ATLANTA: ATLANTA (AP) - The Atlanta Braves usually start the season touted as playoff contenders.
Not this time.
For one of the few times in the last two-plus decades, not much is expected of a team that collapsed late last season, fired general manager Frank Wren and underwent a massive overhaul during the offseason.
The Braves dealt away sluggers Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and Evan Gattis, receiving only one player (starting pitcher Shelby Miller) who is likely to make a significant impact right away. Mostly, the team was focused on restocking a once-mighty farm system that fell on hard times during Wren's regime.
The message was clear: The Braves are rebuilding under new GM John Hart, with an eye toward the 2017 opening of the team's new suburban stadium.
''It's kind of on us to just put our heads down and work hard and try to win as many games as we can with the team we've got,'' third baseman Chris Johnson said. ''We can't look back. We can't look at who's gone.''
The Braves are likely to remain one of the most offensively challenged teams in baseball, but the pitching staff at least looks promising. The 24-year-old Miller had 25 wins for St. Louis over the last two season and joins a rotation that already includes two more 24-year-olds: All-Star Julio Teheran (14-13, 2.89) and left-hander Alex Wood (11-11, 2.78). If lefty Mike Minor, only 27, can bounce back from shoulder problems, the outlook is even brighter.
Atlanta also has perhaps the most dominant closer in the game, Craig Kimbrel, who led the NL in saves for the fourth year in a row with 47.
''I like our pitching,'' manager Fredi Gonzalez said. ''Our rotation is going to be as good as you want.''
Even if the pitching comes through, the Braves have slipped way behind Washington in the NL East and could have trouble holding off the up-and-coming Miami Marlins as well.
Yep, times have changed in Atlanta.
Or maybe not.
''The goal is the same for me,'' Gonzalez insisted. ''Our goal is to make the playoffs.''
WHAT'S IN A NAME?: The center fielder formerly known as B.J. Upton is hoping a name change - actually, using his given name - will help him bounce back from two horrific seasons. The early results were not promising for Melvin Upton Jr., who missed all of spring training with a foot injury. Eric Young Jr. will hold down the starting job until Upton returns. Even then, Upton may have to share playing time unless he shows significant improvement. As it stands now, he's one of the greatest free-agent busts in baseball history. Since signing a $75-million, five-year contract with the Braves, his two-season totals are .198 with 21 homers, 51 RBIs and a staggering 324 strikeouts.
WHERE'S THE OFFENSE?: Even with Upton, Heyward and Gattis, the Braves scored the second-fewest runs in the majors. The offense was virtually non-existent coming down the stretch, the major reason Atlanta went 7-18 over the final month and wound up 17 games behind Washington after being tied for first at the All-Star break. The homer-or-bust philosophy clearly didn't work, so the Braves are hoping to scrap for runs this season. They'll have to with a lineup likely to include journeymen such as Young and Jonny Gomes, as well as rookie second baseman Jace Peterson. The only major offensive addition was right fielder Nick Markakis, and he's coming off neck surgery.
FREDI'S FUTURE: After firing Wren with a week to go in the disappointing 2014 season, the Braves decided to bring back Gonzalez for another year. He certainly deserved a shot to make up for a late-season collapse that was largely the result of a feeble offense. Let's not forget: During Gonzalez's first three years as manager, Atlanta won an NL East title, made two playoff appearances and missed out on another postseason berth on the final day. But his long-term future looks shaky, even with a franchise that cherishes stability. The Braves are definitely in rebuilding mode, and the manager often takes the fall when the losses begin to pile up. | | TORONTO: TORONTO (AP) - The upcoming season for the Toronto Blue Jays seems destined to be defined by the one young pitcher who'll miss it and the two even younger guys who'll try to replace him.
Toronto's plans for ending baseball's longest active playoff drought took a serious hit when Marcus Stroman suffered a season-ending knee injury in spring training.
The second-year right-hander tore a ligament when his knee buckled as he backed off a bunt during a pregame fielding drill. He's out for the year after undergoing surgery.
''It's tough,'' Stroman said. ''I just feel like I let my team down. I've worked harder than I ever had this offseason.''
The injury changed Toronto's thinking about 22-year-old right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who might have been closing games rather than starting them if Stroman was still healthy, and 21-year-old lefty Daniel Norris, the van-dwelling surfer dude.
The two pitchers now look likely to get their shot in Toronto's rotation, slotting in behind 200-inning workhorses R.A Dickey and Mark Buehrle, and 24-year-old right-hander Drew Hutchison.
How successful they are could well determine what happens to the Blue Jays, out of the postseason since winning their second straight World Series in 1993 and the only team that hasn't reached the playoffs this century.
''We may have to rely on a young guy who may not be proven,'' manager John Gibbons said. ''Stro was a baby, too, but a special guy.''
Sanchez has already shown signs that he could also be special. He excelled out of the bullpen in 24 games last season, posting three saves and a 1.09 ERA in 33 innings, striking out 27 while walking nine and holding opponents to a .128 average.
With the increased demands of a starting role lying ahead, the hard-throwing Sanchez has spent this spring refining his slider.
''With the way he throws, it could turn into a big strikeout pitch for him,'' Gibbons said.
The Blue Jays are also high on Norris, currently better known for spending his winters searching for prime surfing spots while living out of a 1978 Volkswagen camper van nicknamed ''Shaggy.''
''He's a different bird,'' Gibbons said. ''Anytime you live in a van, I wouldn't say that's normal.''
Norris had an abnormal 2014 season, rising from Class A to the majors after going 12-2 with a 2.53 ERA at three minor league stops. He underwent elbow surgery last October to remove bone spurs, and expects to be better this year than the pitcher who made five appearances for the Blue Jays in September.
''He's a student of the game,'' Gibbons said. ''He's a very smart kid and he's grounded. He's got the most important thing: He's got a great arm.''
After Jose Reyes and the Blue Jays went 83-79, here's what else to watch as they try to move up:
MIGHTY MIGUEL: Sanchez and Norris aren't the only impressive young arms expected to break camp with the Blue Jays. Right-hander Miguel Castro, 20, didn't allow a run in his first five spring appearances, striking out eight and walking none while allowing three hits over nine innings. A hard thrower who stands an imposing 6-foot-5, Castro has put himself in position to jump from Class A, where he went 8-3 with a 2.68 ERA last season, all the way to the majors. ''He looks like a seasoned vet out there, under control, very relaxed,'' Gibbons said.
NEW GUYS, NEW FOCUS: Toronto strengthened its lineup over the winter by signing free agent catcher Russell Martin to a five-year, $82 million contract and acquiring All-Star third baseman Josh Donaldson from Oakland. Slugger Jose Bautista has praised the newcomers for making a difference in the clubhouse with their winning pedigree and intense focus. ''We need something along those lines here every now and then,'' Bautista said. ''It's good to have guys to whom winning matters.''
BLOCKING THE PLATE: Adding Martin gave the Blue Jays a logjam at catcher, where incumbent Dioner Navarro is signed through 2015 and Josh Thole is Dickey's knuckleball specialist. Martin has worked hard this spring to prove he can handle Dickey's floater, which could mean Thole is ticketed for Triple-A. Or, Toronto may yet trade the switch-hitting Navarro to open room at DH for Edwin Encarnacion, who has been slowed this spring by a balky back and may not be able to handle regular duty at first base. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (ATLANTA-TORONTO) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Braves-Blue Jays Preview* ==========================
By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer
Atlanta (6-3) at Toronto (5-5), 1:07 p.m. EDT
Command issues once again plagued R.A. Dickey in an outing that also began a rough opening homestand for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Looking to resolve those problems and end his recent struggles against the Atlanta Braves, the right-hander tries to help the Blue Jays avoid a third straight loss Saturday.
Two of the three runs Dickey has allowed over 12 1-3 innings in two starts came on consecutive bases-loaded walks in a 2-1 loss to Tampa Bay in Monday's home opener. He finished with five bases on balls in that start after walking three in a 4-3 road defeat to the New York Yankees in his 2015 debut.
Commanding the knuckleball continues to be a problem for Dickey, who set a career high with 71 walks in 2013 and had 74 last season.
"I've talked many times how it's amazing how you control that thing anyways, throw it over the plate," manager John Gibbons told MLB's official website. "When you get into a little jam, and there's no breathing room out there, it gets a little tighter.
"But two runs, you'll take that any day, and you expect to win."
Walks have been far from Dickey's only problem in his last three starts against the Braves. He issued five while yielding four home runs in that span, going 0-2 with an 11.15 ERA.
Freddie Freeman has two homers and four doubles while going 10 for 21 against Dickey, who last faced the Braves (7-3) in 2013.
Freeman went deep for the second time in three games in Friday's 8-7 win that dropped Toronto (5-6) to 1-4 on its first homestand.
Atlanta totaled 12 runs in losing its previous six interleague road games but got four hits from Nick Markakis and a tiebreaking pinch-hit homer from Jonny Gomes in the eighth. The victory snapped the Blue Jays' five-game home winning streak against the NL.
"It's nice to see some of the guys start to start to swing the bat a little bit and get hot," manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
Markakis is 7 for 15 during the Braves' second 4-0 road start in three seasons. The former Baltimore outfielder has batted .349 in his last 22 games at Rogers Centre.
Making his first start against Toronto, Alex Wood (1-0, 3.86) is also looking to master his command after walking three each time and going 11 2-3 innings in two starts. The left-hander gave up three runs and eight hits with seven strikeouts in 6 2-3 innings of Sunday's 4-3 loss to the New York Mets.
"Looking back on it, not having my best stuff, these are the kinds of games that kind of separate seasons between good and great," Wood said. "I didn't think I had much of anything from start to finish, but my goal is to give our team a chance to win every time out."
Wood won't face Jose Reyes, who missed the opener and is out until Tuesday because of a cracked rib and strained muscle.
Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin each homered twice for Toronto on Friday.
Donaldson is 8 for 17 in the last four games after going 5 for 26 in the first seven. Martin's two hits doubled the total of his first eight contests.
Gomes' 10 pinch-hit homers are the most among active players.
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| | Last Updated: 4/18/2024 2:50:38 PM EST. |
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