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ATLANTA ( MEDLEN )
CHICAGO CUBS ( WOOD ) |
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7.5un
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| 951 | ATLANTA | -135 | Ov 7,-120 | -135 | Ov 7,-125 | | 952 | CHICAGO CUBS | +125 | Un 7,+100 | +125 | Un 7,+105 |
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| All Games | 91-62 | +11.3 | 69-75 | 4.3 | 0.248 | 0.316 | 3.4 | 0.243 | 0.297 | | Road Games | 39-40 | -5.6 | 39-36 | 4.0 | 0.237 | 0.304 | 3.8 | 0.255 | 0.313 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 24-15 | +6.4 | 16-23 | 3.9 | 0.239 | 0.312 | 3.4 | 0.224 | 0.284 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -2.4 | 2-5 | 3.4 | 0.211 | 0.287 | 3.7 | 0.243 | 0.296 | | Grass Games | 90-61 | +11.3 | 67-75 | 4.3 | 0.248 | 0.316 | 3.4 | 0.242 | 0.296 | | Day Games | 28-20 | +4.2 | 22-21 | 4.7 | 0.254 | 0.332 | 3.7 | 0.245 | 0.306 |
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| All Games | 4.3 | 0.248 | 0.316 | 153 | 5148 | 1277 | 428 | 174 | 0.03 | 625 | 513 | 1306 | 60 | 1073 | 134 | 79 | 134 | 78 | | Road Games | 4.0 | 0.237 | 0.304 | 79 | 2721 | 646 | 217 | 88 | 0.03 | 306 | 259 | 687 | 24 | 548 | 75 | 44 | 70 | 44 | | Lefty Starters | 3.9 | 0.239 | 0.312 | 39 | 1297 | 310 | 106 | 41 | 0.03 | 148 | 137 | 333 | 12 | 275 | 36 | 19 | 31 | 22 |
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| All Games | 2.42 | 1.126 | 439.7 | 121 | 118 | 342 | 27 | 153 | 398 | 28-14 | 51 | 13 | 79.7% | | Road Games | 2.77 | 1.227 | 211 | 68 | 65 | 181 | 14 | 78 | 191 | 11-9 | 27 | 7 | 79.4% |
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| All Games | 64-90 | -11.7 | 65-81 | 3.8 | 0.237 | 0.295 | 4.2 | 0.244 | 0.312 | | Home Games | 29-47 | -19.6 | 36-35 | 4.2 | 0.250 | 0.307 | 4.6 | 0.252 | 0.320 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 43-68 | -18.3 | 50-56 | 3.9 | 0.236 | 0.293 | 4.4 | 0.243 | 0.310 | | Past 7 Games | 1-6 | -4.8 | 1-6 | 2.4 | 0.213 | 0.272 | 4.6 | 0.202 | 0.280 | | Grass Games | 64-90 | -11.7 | 65-81 | 3.8 | 0.237 | 0.295 | 4.2 | 0.244 | 0.312 | | Day Games | 28-46 | -15.9 | 27-42 | 3.7 | 0.237 | 0.298 | 4.0 | 0.230 | 0.302 |
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| All Games | 3.8 | 0.237 | 0.295 | 154 | 5241 | 1244 | 468 | 170 | 0.03 | 562 | 428 | 1160 | 61 | 1040 | 132 | 94 | 123 | 104 | | Home Games | 4.2 | 0.250 | 0.307 | 76 | 2541 | 634 | 251 | 101 | 0.04 | 311 | 211 | 559 | 28 | 488 | 75 | 51 | 68 | 52 | | Righty Starters | 3.9 | 0.236 | 0.293 | 111 | 3805 | 898 | 337 | 119 | 0.03 | 412 | 307 | 835 | 36 | 745 | 91 | 70 | 84 | 76 |
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| All Games | 4.09 | 1.367 | 442 | 213 | 201 | 407 | 49 | 197 | 373 | 20-30 | 37 | 25 | 59.7% | | Home Games | 4.46 | 1.397 | 232 | 123 | 115 | 219 | 19 | 105 | 216 | 8-16 | 11 | 12 | 47.8% |
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| 9/7/2013 | WOOD(L) | @ PHILADELPHIA | KENDRICK(R) | 5-6 | L | -160 | 8 un | O | 7 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 12 | 0 | | 9/8/2013 | MAHOLM(L) | @ PHILADELPHIA | HAMELS(L) | 2-3 | L | 110 | 7 un | U | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 9/9/2013 | MEDLEN(R) | @ MIAMI | ALVAREZ(R) | 5-2 | W | -165 | 7 ov | P | 5 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 9/10/2013 | TEHERAN(R) | @ MIAMI | KOEHLER(R) | 4-3 | W | -165 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 10 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 1 | | 9/11/2013 | MINOR(L) | @ MIAMI | FERNANDEZ(R) | 2-5 | L | 100 | 6.5 un | O | 7 | 8 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 0 | | 9/12/2013 | GARCIA(R) | @ MIAMI | FLYNN(L) | 6-1 | W | -140 | 8 ov | U | 9 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 9/13/2013 | HALE(R) | SAN DIEGO | KENNEDY(R) | 3-4 | L | -140 | 8 un | U | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 0 | | 9/14/2013 | MEDLEN(R) | SAN DIEGO | ERLIN(L) | 2-1 | W | -195 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 | | 9/15/2013 | TEHERAN(R) | SAN DIEGO | SMITH(R) | 0-4 | L | -200 | 8 un | U | 4 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 1 | | 9/17/2013 | MINOR(L) | @ WASHINGTON | HAREN(R) | 5-6 | L | 110 | 7 ov | O | 9 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 | | 9/17/2013 | GARCIA(R) | @ WASHINGTON | ROARK(R) | 0-4 | L | 135 | 8 un | U | 5 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 1 | | 9/18/2013 | WOOD(L) | @ WASHINGTON | OHLENDORF(R) | 5-2 | W | 100 | 7.5 un | U | 8 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 1 | | 9/20/2013 | MAHOLM(L) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | BAKER(R) | 9-5 | W | -130 | 9 ev | O | 8 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 0 | | 9/21/2013 | MEDLEN(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | WOOD(L) | | | 9/22/2013 | TEHERAN(R) | @ CHICAGO CUBS | JACKSON(R) | | | 9/23/2013 | MINOR(L) | MILWAUKEE | ESTRADA(R) | | | 9/24/2013 | WOOD(L) | MILWAUKEE | THORNBURG(R) | | | 9/25/2013 | MAHOLM(L) | MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | | | 9/26/2013 | MEDLEN(R) | PHILADELPHIA | CLOYD(R) | | | 9/27/2013 | TEHERAN(R) | PHILADELPHIA | LEE(L) | | | 9/28/2013 | | PHILADELPHIA | | |
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| 9/7/2013 | ARRIETA(R) | MILWAUKEE | HELLWEG(R) | 3-5 | L | -140 | 10.5 ov | U | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 1 | | 9/8/2013 | BAKER(R) | MILWAUKEE | GALLARDO(R) | 1-3 | L | +115 | 7.5 un | U | 3 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 9/9/2013 | WOOD(L) | @ CINCINNATI | ARROYO(R) | 2-0 | W | 165 | 7.5 ov | U | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 0 | | 9/10/2013 | JACKSON(R) | @ CINCINNATI | CINGRANI(L) | 9-1 | W | 225 | 8 ov | O | 13 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 1 | | 9/11/2013 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | @ CINCINNATI | LEAKE(R) | 0-6 | L | 160 | 8.5 un | U | 6 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 0 | | 9/12/2013 | RUSIN(L) | @ PITTSBURGH | LOCKE(L) | 1-3 | L | 160 | 7.5 un | U | 4 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | | 9/13/2013 | ARRIETA(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | 5-4 | W | 160 | 7 un | O | 9 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 1 | | 9/14/2013 | BAKER(R) | @ PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | 1-2 | L | 175 | 7 un | U | 5 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | | 9/15/2013 | WOOD(L) | @ PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | 2-3 | L | 165 | 6.5 un | U | 3 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 9/16/2013 | JACKSON(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | PERALTA(R) | 1-6 | L | 115 | 8 ev | U | 5 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 2 | | 9/17/2013 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | ESTRADA(R) | 3-4 | L | 125 | 7.5 un | U | 7 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 0 | | 9/18/2013 | RUSIN(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | THORNBURG(R) | 0-7 | L | 130 | 8 un | U | 4 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | | 9/19/2013 | ARRIETA(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | 5-1 | W | 125 | 8.5 un | U | 13 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 1 | | 9/20/2013 | BAKER(R) | ATLANTA | MAHOLM(L) | 5-9 | L | +120 | 9 ev | O | 11 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 | | 9/21/2013 | WOOD(L) | ATLANTA | MEDLEN(R) | | | 9/22/2013 | JACKSON(R) | ATLANTA | TEHERAN(R) | | | 9/23/2013 | SAMARDZIJA(R) | PITTSBURGH | MORTON(R) | | | 9/24/2013 | RUSIN(L) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | | | 9/25/2013 | ARRIETA(R) | PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | | | 9/27/2013 | WOOD(L) | @ ST LOUIS | LYNN(R) | | | 9/28/2013 | | @ ST LOUIS | | |
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| |  | ATLANTA: HITTING: The Braves were 27th in the majors in steals last year, but that number should rise with a full season of speedster OF MICHAEL BOURN, who was acquired from Houston last July. OFs MARTIN PRADO and JASON HEYWARD comprise the corner outfield spots, and are both are looking to bounce back after disappointing, injury-riddled 2011 campaigns. 2B DAN UGGLA smacked a career-best 36 HR in his first year with Atlanta, his fifth straight 30-homer season. Steady veterans C BRIAN McCANN and 3B CHIPPER JONES comprise a solid middle of the lineup. McCann has four straight 20-HR, 70-RBI seasons, while Jones, who turns 40 in April, has a career .402 on-base percentage. 1B FREDDIE FREEMAN was the N.L.'s best offensive rookie last year, batting .282 with 21 HR and 76 RBI. The starting shortstop will be one of two highly-touted, 22-year-old prospects, TYLER PASTORNICKY or ANDRELTON SIMMONS.
STARTING PITCHING: Even with significant injuries to three starters, the Braves rotation still ranked ninth in the majors in ERA (3.73), thanks to TIM HUDSON posting a 3.22 ERA in 215 innings. The right-hander was lights-out at Turner Field again, going 10-4 with a 2.31 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. But he'll be out at least a month because of back problems. JAIR JURRJENS was outstanding through the end of July (12-3, 2.38 ERA), but a knee strain bothered him in August and shut him down for September. Although many teams inquired about Jurrjens in the offseason, it doesn't look like the Braves want to deal him just yet. TOMMY HANSON is another young star (25) that had to be shut down in early August due to a partially torn rotator cuff. His ERA was a career-worst 3.60, but he notched a career-best 9.8 K/9 rate. BRANDON BEACHY, also 25, posted a whopping 10.7 K/9 ratio with a respectable ERA (3.68) and WHIP (1.21). Atlanta is loaded with young pitchers, but expect MIKE MINOR (5-3, 4.14 ERA) and RANDALL DELGADO to start in the majors, with JULIO TEHERAN, who has the most upside of the trio, to begin 2012 in Triple-A.
RELIEF PITCHING: CRAIG KIMBREL exceeded all expectations last year, establishing himself as one of the best closers in the game. He struck out an eye-popping 14.8 batters per nine (127 K in 77 IP), and converted 46-of-54 (85%) save chances. Even though Kimbrel's job as a closer is probably locked down for the next decade, the Braves have two other great relievers, both lefties. JONNY VENTERS posted a 1.84 WHIP and .176 opponents' BA in 88 innings, and is next in line for saves (five in 2011) should Kimbrel suffer an injury. Fellow southpaw ERIC O'FLAHERTY had a 0.98 ERA (8 ER in 73.2 IP) and 32 holds, just three fewer than Venters. | | CHICAGO CUBS: HITTING: 'Under New Management' is the motto in Wrigleyville, where Epstein, Hoyer, Sveum and Co. aim to turn SS STARLIN CASTRO and a bunch of straw into gold. OF DAVID DeJESUS was an underrated first pick-up. But OFs ALFONSO SORIANO and MARLON BYRD are overpaid and over the hill. C GEOVANY SOTO has lost his mojo. New 3B IAN STEWART has a lousy career OPS of .737 away from Coors Field. 1B BRYAN LaHAIR is tagged as part of a 'youth movement,' but he's almost 30. The other youths'2B DARWIN BARNEY, IF JEFF BAKER, and IF BLAKE DEWITT 'are interchangeable guys with low ceilings. Fourth OF TONY CAMPANA is fast but one-dimensional. And minor-league reinforcements are scarce. OF BRETT JACKSON is solid, but blocked in the lineup. And former uber-prospect 3B JOSH VITTERS has done nothing to justify his third-overall draft status. This rebuilding process will take time. Meanwhile, somewhere in the Chicago suburbs, Jim Hendry quietly sobs into a pile of Cubs-themed stuffed animals.
STARTING PITCHING: RYAN DEMPSTER should bounce back from an unlucky year in which there was nearly a full-run difference between his ERA and his FIP. He's no ace in good times, but he's an underrated and dependable source of innings and strikeouts. MATT GARZA didn't disappoint in his debut season on the North Side, but he was an odd acquisition to begin with: the Cubs dealt top prospects from a thin system when all signs pointed to a belly-flop of a season. He's already trade bait again. JEFF SAMARDZIJA is moving to the rotation after a strong year in the bullpen (2.97 ERA, 87 K in 88 IP), but he needs to cut down on his walks (5.1 per 9 IP). What killed TRAVIS WOOD in 2011 was uncharacteristic wildness. His walk total spiked by over 50 percent from 2010. He's better than this, though it's hard to say how much. It could be that a 40-inning jump from 2010 to 2011 aided his freefall. Subpar newcomers PAUL MAHOLM and CHRIS VOLSTAD will also compete for rotation spots. The lefty Maholm is coming off his best season in Pittsburgh (3.66 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), but was awful after the All-Star break (0-5, 5.75 ERA, .355 Opp. BA). The 6-foot-8 Volstad was 5-13 with a 4.89 ERA for the Marlins last year, but still has time to figure things out at age 25.
RELIEF PITCHING: Because of his contract and the head-scratching faith in the 'closer mentality' that still pervades even the most enlightened front offices, CARLOS MARMOL will enter the 2012 campaign with a near-ironclad grip on ninth-inning duties for the Cubs. Trading away Sean Marshall, arguably Chicago's best reliever last season, is yet another vote of confidence for Marmol. His lack of command leads to more hittable pitches (along with tons of walks), though his ceiling for strikeouts and saves is sky-high. KERRY WOOD will be the main set-up man again after a triumphant return to Chicago last season (3.35 ERA, 57 K in 51 IP). |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (ATLANTA-CHICAGO CUBS) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Braves-Cubs Preview* =====================
By NOEY KUPCHAN STATS Writer
Atlanta (90-62) at Chicago (64-89), 4:05 p.m. EDT
On the verge of locking up the NL East, the Atlanta Braves would appear to have a good chance to clinch with Kris Medlen on the hill.
Looking to win a season-high fifth straight start, Medlen tries to help the visiting Braves secure their first division title in eight years Saturday against the Chicago Cubs.
Chris Johnson and Freddie Freeman homered and drove in a combined five runs as Atlanta (91-62) trimmed its magic number to clinch the East to one with Friday's 9-5 victory. Andrelton Simmons added two RBIs for the Braves, who can also clinch if Washington loses to Miami.
"It's been a fun season," Friday's starter Paul Maholm said. "We started off real hot and built a big lead, we cooled off a bit, lost some people, but we were able to maintain that big lead. Hopefully, we'll go deep in the playoffs."
The Braves haven't won the division since 2005, their last of 11 consecutive first-place finishes.
"This might be the best group of guys in terms of resiliency," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "They battle. They're a talented group of guys - let's not forget that - but we've gone through some adversity at times, losing some key players earlier in the year and a leader on our pitching staff.
"It's a good group of guys; just a good team."
Medlen (14-12, 3.32 ERA) has been especially good of late, posting a 0.98 ERA during his four-start winning streak. The right-hander allowed four hits over 7 1-3 scoreless innings to beat San Diego 2-1 last Saturday.
"He knows how to pitch," Padres manager Bud Black told MLB's official website. "His fastball had action in the hitting area, he has a tremendous changeup. He's their guy. They're headed to the playoffs and I suspect that he will be their first-game pitcher."
Medlen, who went 9-0 with a 0.97 ERA in 12 starts down the stretch in 2012, is 8-1 in his last nine starts.
"Whether I'm a second-half guy or whatever it is, I just feel like I've clicked," he said.
Medlen has gone 1-0 while throwing 7 2-3 scoreless innings of relief in five career appearances against the Cubs (64-90).
Loser in eight of 10 overall, Chicago has dropped five straight to Atlanta, including all four matchups this year by a 24-12 margin. Starlin Castro, Donnie Murphy and Dioner Navarro homered Friday before Kevin Gregg gave up four runs in the ninth inning.
Gregg, who was under the impression he had been removed from the closer's role in favor of Pedro Strop, may have played his final game in a Cubs uniform after expressing his frustrations to the media. He is 2-5 with 32 saves and a 3.45 ERA.
"Apparently Kevin misunderstood (manager) Dale (Sveum) and thought he'd had his job permanently taken away from him," Cubs president Theo Epstein said. "He apparently had some choice words. ... I told him that I'd sleep on it and let him know if he was released in the morning."
Starter Travis Wood (9-11, 3.05) will try to help the Cubs bounce back. The left-hander, who is 2-1 with a 2.00 ERA in his last four starts, allowed two runs in six innings but didn't receive a decision in Sunday's 3-2 loss at Pittsburgh.
Wood, who has never faced the Braves, is 0-4 with a 5.64 ERA in his last five outings at Wrigley Field.
Atlanta's Jason Heyward went 0 for 2 with a walk and a run Friday in his first game back since missing a month with a fractured jaw. He is 6 for his last 44 (.136) against the Cubs.
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| | Last Updated: 4/25/2024 3:22:03 AM EST. |
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