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ATLANTA ( MILLER )
PHILADELPHIA ( BUCHANAN ) |
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7.5un
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| 955 | ATLANTA | -125 | Ov 7.5,+105 | -115 | Ov 7.5,+120 | | 956 | PHILADELPHIA | +115 | Un 7.5,-125 | +105 | Un 7.5,-140 |
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| All Games | 8-8 | +1.6 | 10-6 | 3.7 | 0.232 | 0.299 | 0.372 | 0.672 | 3.8 | 0.243 | 0.326 | 0.365 | 0.691 | | Road Games | 5-5 | +1.8 | 5-5 | 4.0 | 0.238 | 0.313 | 0.351 | 0.664 | 3.5 | 0.245 | 0.323 | 0.364 | 0.687 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 6-7 | 0 | 8-5 | 3.8 | 0.233 | 0.294 | 0.379 | 0.673 | 3.8 | 0.246 | 0.329 | 0.377 | 0.706 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -2.2 | 4-3 | 3.4 | 0.227 | 0.303 | 0.354 | 0.657 | 4.6 | 0.262 | 0.346 | 0.418 | 0.764 | | Grass Games | 6-7 | -0.4 | 8-5 | 3.2 | 0.222 | 0.284 | 0.350 | 0.635 | 3.5 | 0.232 | 0.320 | 0.318 | 0.638 | | Night Games | 6-4 | +2.8 | 6-4 | 4.0 | 0.247 | 0.324 | 0.392 | 0.716 | 3.6 | 0.231 | 0.310 | 0.346 | 0.656 | | Division | 6-7 | -0.4 | 8-5 | 3.2 | 0.222 | 0.284 | 0.350 | 0.635 | 3.5 | 0.232 | 0.320 | 0.318 | 0.638 |
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| All Games | 3.7 | 0.232 | 0.299 | 16 | 521 | 121 | 23 | 4 | 14 | 0.372 | 57 | 50 | 108 | 7 | 97 | 17 | 8 | 23 | 9 | | Road Games | 4.0 | 0.238 | 0.313 | 10 | 328 | 78 | 12 | 2 | 7 | 0.351 | 39 | 36 | 68 | 2 | 61 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 3 | | Righty Starters | 3.8 | 0.233 | 0.294 | 13 | 425 | 99 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 0.379 | 48 | 37 | 88 | 5 | 73 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 8 |
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| All Games | 3.18 | 1.165 | 56.7 | 21 | 20 | 39 | 5 | 27 | 55 | 3-4 | 7 | 2 | 77.8% | | Road Games | 3.31 | 1.224 | 32.7 | 13 | 12 | 24 | 4 | 16 | 30 | 2-3 | 4 | 2 | 66.7% |
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| All Games | 6-11 | -3.8 | 8-6 | 2.5 | 0.215 | 0.269 | 0.319 | 0.588 | 4.4 | 0.246 | 0.325 | 0.382 | 0.707 | | Home Games | 5-5 | +0.6 | 4-4 | 2.6 | 0.218 | 0.272 | 0.311 | 0.583 | 4.1 | 0.228 | 0.306 | 0.346 | 0.652 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 4-10 | -5.4 | 8-4 | 2.6 | 0.207 | 0.257 | 0.317 | 0.573 | 4.8 | 0.253 | 0.335 | 0.389 | 0.724 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.5 | 4-2 | 2.6 | 0.216 | 0.258 | 0.317 | 0.576 | 4.6 | 0.257 | 0.325 | 0.353 | 0.677 | | Grass Games | 6-11 | -3.8 | 8-6 | 2.5 | 0.215 | 0.269 | 0.319 | 0.588 | 4.4 | 0.246 | 0.325 | 0.382 | 0.707 | | Night Games | 5-6 | -0.4 | 5-4 | 2.9 | 0.221 | 0.272 | 0.353 | 0.625 | 4.0 | 0.239 | 0.312 | 0.362 | 0.674 | | Division | 5-9 | -3 | 6-5 | 2.6 | 0.228 | 0.281 | 0.345 | 0.626 | 4.1 | 0.252 | 0.324 | 0.382 | 0.705 |
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| All Games | 2.5 | 0.215 | 0.269 | 17 | 558 | 120 | 21 | 5 | 9 | 0.319 | 41 | 41 | 123 | 8 | 120 | 11 | 17 | 12 | 6 | | Home Games | 2.6 | 0.218 | 0.272 | 10 | 325 | 71 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 0.311 | 25 | 24 | 72 | 4 | 69 | 5 | 11 | 9 | 4 | | Righty Starters | 2.6 | 0.207 | 0.257 | 14 | 464 | 96 | 16 | 4 | 9 | 0.317 | 35 | 31 | 111 | 8 | 92 | 7 | 16 | 9 | 6 |
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| All Games | 2.85 | 1.565 | 53.7 | 26 | 17 | 53 | 3 | 31 | 51 | 3-2 | 3 | 0 | 100% | | Home Games | 3.06 | 1.500 | 35.3 | 19 | 12 | 35 | 2 | 18 | 34 | 3-2 | 2 | 0 | 100% |
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| 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) | 5-6 | L | 160 | 8 ov | O | 9 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 0 | | 4/19/2015 | MILLER(R) | @ TORONTO | NORRIS(L) | 5-2 | W | 160 | 8.5 ov | U | 8 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 6 | 1 | | 4/21/2015 | CAHILL(R) | @ NY METS | NIESE(L) | 1-7 | L | 135 | 7 ov | O | 5 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 1 | | 4/22/2015 | STULTS(L) | @ NY METS | GEE(R) | 2-3 | L | 120 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | | 4/23/2015 | TEHERAN(R) | @ NY METS | COLON(R) | 3-6 | L | 115 | 7 un | O | 8 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | WOOD(L) | @ PHILADELPHIA | HARANG(R) | 0-1 | L | -120 | 7 un | U | 2 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 0 | | 4/25/2015 | MILLER(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | BUCHANAN(R) | | | 4/26/2015 | CAHILL(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | WILLIAMS(R) | | | 4/27/2015 | STULTS(L) | WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | TEHERAN(R) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | WOOD(L) | WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | | | 4/30/2015 | | CINCINNATI | | | | 5/1/2015 | | CINCINNATI | | | | 5/2/2015 | | CINCINNATI | | |
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| 4/11/2015 | HAMELS(L) | WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | 3-2 | W | +100 | 6.5 un | U | 13 | 12 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 1 | | 4/12/2015 | O'SULLIVAN(R) | WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | 3-4 | L | +165 | 7 un | P | 9 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 1 | | 4/13/2015 | HARANG(R) | @ NY METS | DEGROM(R) | 0-2 | L | 155 | 7 un | U | 7 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 0 | | 4/14/2015 | BUCHANAN(R) | @ NY METS | HARVEY(R) | 5-6 | L | 195 | 6.5 un | O | 7 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 12 | 1 | | 4/15/2015 | WILLIAMS(R) | @ NY METS | NIESE(L) | 1-6 | L | 150 | 7 un | P | 9 | 11 | 1 | 12 | 12 | 1 | | 4/16/2015 | HAMELS(L) | @ WASHINGTON | FISTER(R) | 2-5 | L | 125 | 6.5 un | O | 5 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 1 | | 4/17/2015 | O'SULLIVAN(R) | @ WASHINGTON | SCHERZER(R) | 2-7 | L | 225 | 7 ev | O | 7 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 2 | | 4/18/2015 | HARANG(R) | @ WASHINGTON | ZIMMERMANN(R) | 5-3 | W | 160 | 7 ov | O | 7 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 1 | | 4/19/2015 | BUCHANAN(R) | @ WASHINGTON | STRASBURG(R) | 1-4 | L | 210 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 0 | | 4/21/2015 | WILLIAMS(R) | MIAMI | HAREN(R) | 7-3 | W | +105 | 7.5 un | O | 7 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 1 | | 4/22/2015 | HAMELS(L) | MIAMI | COSART(R) | 1-6 | L | -125 | 7 ev | P | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 0 | | 4/23/2015 | MCGOWAN(R) | MIAMI | PHELPS(R) | 1-9 | L | +110 | 7.5 ov | O | 8 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 0 | | 4/24/2015 | HARANG(R) | ATLANTA | WOOD(L) | 1-0 | W | +110 | 7 un | U | 8 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | | 4/25/2015 | BUCHANAN(R) | ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | | | 4/26/2015 | WILLIAMS(R) | ATLANTA | CAHILL(R) | | | 4/27/2015 | HAMELS(L) | @ ST LOUIS | LACKEY(R) | | | 4/28/2015 | MCGOWAN(R) | @ ST LOUIS | WACHA(R) | | | 4/29/2015 | HARANG(R) | @ ST LOUIS | MARTINEZ(R) | | | 4/30/2015 | | @ ST LOUIS | | | | 5/1/2015 | | @ MIAMI | | | | 5/2/2015 | | @ MIAMI | | |
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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. | | PHILADELPHIA: CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) - No team is picked to win fewer games this season than the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rebuilding isn't easy.
After dominating the NL East from 2007-11, capturing five division titles, two pennants and one World Series championship, the Phillies have spiraled downward - all the way to the bottom.
Oddsmakers set Philadelphia's win total for 2015 at 67 or 68. Things could get even uglier if ace Cole Hamels is traded - a very realistic possibility - along with other veterans still hanging around. Ryan Howard and Jonathan Papelbon are available. Chase Utley and Carlos Ruiz also could be moved. Jimmy Rollins was the first member of the nucleus to go when he was traded to the Dodgers in December.
The goal this season is figuring out which players will be part of the future. Cody Asche, Maikel Franco, Freddy Galvis, Cesar Hernandez, Darin Ruf and Odubel Herrera are among those will get opportunities. Asche and Galvis form the left side of the infield. Franco will begin the season at Triple-A. Hernandez and Herrera will start off as role players. Ruf still is hoping to get a chance to play regularly.
''I'm very pleased with the demeanor of the players in the clubhouse,'' general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. said. ''Young players are stepping up and gaining confidence. It's all about experience and that's what these young guys are going to get and hopefully they take the ball and run with it.''
Howard, Utley and Rollins each were homegrown players who developed into the best players at their position in franchise history. Those are big shoes for guys like Asche, Galvis and others to fill.
But they're up for the challenge.
''The faces might be different, the names might be different and they might not be big names, but the mentality is the same,'' Asche said. ''We're still out there trying to earn it every day and we're going to have our bad days and good days, but I guarantee there's no one in that clubhouse not trying to earn something.''
Here are some things to know about the Phillies entering the season:
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REPLACING J-ROLL
Jimmy Rollins was a three-time All-Star shortstop and the 2007 NL MVP. Beyond the stats, he was a team leader who brought swagger to the clubhouse. Freddy Galvis takes his spot while top prospect J.P. Crawford is groomed in the minors. Galvis is an excellent defensive player whether he's playing second base, shortstop, third base or even the outfield. The switch-hitter has a .218 career average with 13 homers and 55 RBIs in 514 at-bats. Galvis has gap power - 42 extra-base hits - but needs to improve his average and stay on top of the ball at the plate.
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FINISHING OFF
If starting pitchers get through six innings with a lead, the Phillies may win more games than people think. Their bullpen is a major strength. Jonathan Papelbon converted 39 of 43 save chances last year. Setup man Ken Giles brings a 100 mph heater to the eighth inning. Lefty Jake Diekman has a power arm in the seventh or eighth and righty Justin De Fratus is solid.
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STARTING FIVE
Before Cliff Lee's elbow injury, the rotation was quite formidable with Cole Hamels, Lee and Aaron Harang. Now, Harang moves up to No. 2 and journeyman Jerome Williams takes the third spot ahead of David Buchanan. Several guys are competing for the No. 5 spot while Chad Billingsley works his way back from two elbow operations.
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POWER OUTTAGE
Marlon Byrd led the Phillies with 25 homers last year before he was traded to Cincinnati in the offseason. Howard hit 23, but the former NL MVP looked good in spring training. If he sticks around, he should supply more power. But Chase Utley only hit 11 homers last year and Domonic Brown dropped from 27 to 10. This won't be the 2009 Phillies who had four guys hit 30 homers and five hit 20. But there's a chance they'll get a few more in the 15-20 range.
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CALLING THE SHOTS
Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg is finding out it was easier for him to play the game than to win games as the manager. Sandberg is 93-111 since replacing Charlie Manuel in August 2013. |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (ATLANTA-PHILADELPHIA) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Braves-Phillies Preview* =========================
By KEVIN CHROUST STATS Writer
Atlanta (8-7) at Philadelphia (5-11), 7:05 p.m. EDT
Shelby Miller has been effective in his first three starts with the Atlanta Braves, but that success has come despite the shortcomings that made much of his 2014 season forgettable following him to the NL East.
Miller will face a Phillies lineup Saturday night in Philadelphia that could again allow him to get away with control issues, though the 24-year-old knows it's something he'll have to straighten out if a consistent season is to follow.
Miller (2-0, 1.69 ERA) has won consecutive starts after Sunday's 5-2 victory in Toronto, limiting a potent Blue Jays lineup to two runs and five hits while striking out six in six innings as he continues to refine a cutter.
"It's more of a feel, pitch, a confidence pitch," Miller said. "You've just got to have confidence in it and throw it and let it do what it does. That's a pitch that'll help but it's still got a lot of room to grow."
It was his longest outing of the season, in which he's issued seven walks and hit a batter in 16 innings.
The 3.94 walks per nine innings is up from a career mark of 3.26 entering the season, and his 1.57 strikeout-to-walk ratio is down from 2.33. It's only three starts, but it has to be a concern after his 2014 season was nearly sabotaged by posting marks of 4.46 and 1.35, respectively, through 19 starts. He went 7-8 with a 4.29 ERA in that span, then recovered to go 5-1 with a 2.73 ERA in his last 15. That stretch included 2.53 walks per nine and a 2.60 ratio.
Against the Phillies, Miller has only had to worry about Ryan Howard (3 for 5 with two home runs) and Chase Utley (4 for 9), though neither former All-Star has been imposing early this season.
Philadelphia (6-11) opened the series with a 1-0 win Friday, but it has scored three runs in three games and has a big league-low 42 for the season. Freddy Galvis was 3 for 4 and Cody Asche has a six-game hitting streak, but the key names of Utley (.135), Howard (.180), Ben Revere (.172) and Carlos Ruiz (.190) continue to struggle.
That lineup, combined with David Buchanan's awful start, has made for predictable results with the right-hander on the mound. Buchanan (0-3, 9.22) allowed three runs and six hits in five innings of Sunday's 4-1 loss in Washington for his best start of the season.
His control issues make Miller's look petty. The 25-year-old has issued 5.93 walks per nine, though he saw improvement in comparison to walking four in three innings of his debut against Boston on April 9.
"I think you just have to really look at yourself and be honest with what happened," Buchanan told MLB's official website. "Against the Red Sox, I wasn't really throwing strikes. I was falling behind. Eventually that's going to catch up to you. But today I thought I was throwing the ball in the zone, had some tough breaks."
He faced Atlanta twice as a rookie and wasn't much better, going 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA and nine walks in nine innings.
Atlanta (8-8) has lost four straight, scoring six runs and batting .189 after being two-hit Friday.
After Nick Markakis' hitting streak came to an end, A.J. Pierzynski (.400) is about the only one producing. The catcher has played three straight games over Christian Bethancourt and has hit safely in all eight he's appeared in this season.
The Braves have won eight of 11 in Philadelphia, with their starting pitchers posting a 1.78 ERA.
Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon missed Friday due to illness.
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| | Last Updated: 4/24/2024 3:24:34 AM EST. |
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