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ATLANTA ( CAHILL )
PHILADELPHIA ( WILLIAMS ) |
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| 905 | ATLANTA | +105 | Ov 8.5,+100 | +100 | Ov 7.5,+100 | | 906 | PHILADELPHIA | -115 | Un 8.5,-120 | -110 | Un 7.5,-120 |
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| All Games | 9-8 | +2.6 | 10-7 | 3.8 | 0.234 | 0.302 | 0.375 | 0.677 | 3.7 | 0.239 | 0.321 | 0.362 | 0.683 | | Road Games | 6-5 | +2.8 | 5-6 | 4.1 | 0.240 | 0.316 | 0.356 | 0.672 | 3.4 | 0.239 | 0.315 | 0.359 | 0.674 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 7-7 | +1 | 8-6 | 3.9 | 0.235 | 0.298 | 0.381 | 0.679 | 3.6 | 0.242 | 0.323 | 0.372 | 0.695 | | Past 7 Games | 2-5 | -2.6 | 3-4 | 3.0 | 0.220 | 0.296 | 0.332 | 0.627 | 3.9 | 0.244 | 0.329 | 0.348 | 0.678 | | Grass Games | 7-7 | +0.6 | 8-6 | 3.4 | 0.225 | 0.289 | 0.355 | 0.644 | 3.4 | 0.228 | 0.314 | 0.317 | 0.632 | | Day Games | 2-4 | -1.2 | 4-2 | 3.3 | 0.208 | 0.257 | 0.340 | 0.597 | 4.2 | 0.263 | 0.354 | 0.398 | 0.752 | | Division | 7-7 | +0.6 | 8-6 | 3.4 | 0.225 | 0.289 | 0.355 | 0.644 | 3.4 | 0.228 | 0.314 | 0.317 | 0.632 |
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| All Games | 3.8 | 0.234 | 0.302 | 17 | 555 | 130 | 25 | 4 | 15 | 0.375 | 62 | 54 | 113 | 8 | 103 | 18 | 9 | 23 | 10 | | Road Games | 4.1 | 0.240 | 0.316 | 11 | 362 | 87 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 0.356 | 44 | 40 | 73 | 3 | 67 | 15 | 8 | 13 | 4 | | Righty Starters | 3.9 | 0.235 | 0.298 | 14 | 459 | 108 | 20 | 4 | 13 | 0.381 | 53 | 41 | 93 | 6 | 79 | 15 | 7 | 18 | 9 |
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| All Games | 3.02 | 1.156 | 59.7 | 21 | 20 | 42 | 5 | 27 | 56 | 3-4 | 8 | 2 | 80% | | Road Games | 3.03 | 1.205 | 35.7 | 13 | 12 | 27 | 4 | 16 | 31 | 2-3 | 5 | 2 | 71.4% |
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| All Games | 6-12 | -4.8 | 8-7 | 2.4 | 0.214 | 0.267 | 0.319 | 0.586 | 4.4 | 0.247 | 0.326 | 0.384 | 0.710 | | Home Games | 5-6 | -0.4 | 4-5 | 2.5 | 0.216 | 0.269 | 0.311 | 0.580 | 4.2 | 0.231 | 0.309 | 0.352 | 0.661 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 4-11 | -6.4 | 8-5 | 2.5 | 0.206 | 0.255 | 0.317 | 0.572 | 4.8 | 0.254 | 0.336 | 0.390 | 0.726 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -0.5 | 3-3 | 2.6 | 0.214 | 0.264 | 0.326 | 0.589 | 4.3 | 0.254 | 0.325 | 0.342 | 0.666 | | Grass Games | 6-12 | -4.8 | 8-7 | 2.4 | 0.214 | 0.267 | 0.319 | 0.586 | 4.4 | 0.247 | 0.326 | 0.384 | 0.710 | | Day Games | 1-5 | -3.4 | 3-2 | 1.7 | 0.204 | 0.263 | 0.259 | 0.521 | 5.0 | 0.260 | 0.347 | 0.418 | 0.766 | | Division | 5-10 | -4 | 6-6 | 2.5 | 0.226 | 0.278 | 0.343 | 0.621 | 4.2 | 0.252 | 0.325 | 0.384 | 0.709 |
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| All Games | 2.4 | 0.214 | 0.267 | 18 | 590 | 126 | 22 | 5 | 10 | 0.319 | 43 | 43 | 127 | 9 | 125 | 11 | 17 | 13 | 7 | | Home Games | 2.5 | 0.216 | 0.269 | 11 | 357 | 77 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 0.311 | 27 | 26 | 76 | 5 | 74 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 5 | | Righty Starters | 2.5 | 0.206 | 0.255 | 15 | 496 | 102 | 17 | 4 | 10 | 0.317 | 37 | 33 | 115 | 9 | 97 | 7 | 16 | 10 | 7 |
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| All Games | 3.05 | 1.643 | 56 | 28 | 19 | 60 | 3 | 32 | 53 | 3-2 | 3 | 1 | 75% | | Home Games | 3.34 | 1.619 | 37.7 | 21 | 14 | 42 | 2 | 19 | 36 | 3-2 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% |
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| 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) | 5-2 | W | -115 | 7.5 un | U | 9 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 0 | | 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 | | | | 5/3/2015 | | CINCINNATI | | |
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| 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) | 2-5 | L | +105 | 7.5 un | U | 6 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 1 | | 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 | | | | 5/3/2015 | | @ 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 NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer
Atlanta (8-8) at Philadelphia (6-11), 1:35 p.m. EDT
The Atlanta Braves opened the season with five straight wins, but they have yet to match that total in two weeks since.
After ending a four-game slide, the Braves will try to conclude this three-game series with back-to-back wins Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Atlanta (9-8) has gone 4-8 after its unexpected fast start to 2015. The Braves have followed each of their victories since with a loss, a trend they'll try to break after rallying for a 5-2 win at Philadelphia on Saturday.
Andrelton Simmons got the comeback started with a leadoff homer to spark a three-run seventh after Atlanta was blanked for 20 straight innings over three games, including a 1-0 loss in Friday's series opener.
"No runs (Friday), none through six (Saturday), you might see some hanging heads there," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "But they stayed in there and battled."
Gonzalez will be looking for the same from Trevor Cahill (0-2, 9.95 ERA), who hasn't completed six innings in eight straight starts dating to last season.
He appeared to be on his way Tuesday, tossing four scoreless before giving up four runs and leaving without getting an out in the fifth of a 7-1 loss to the New York Mets.
That can be considered an improvement after he lasted 2 1-3 innings and gave up four runs and three walks in an 8-2 loss to Miami a week earlier.
"Your goal every time out there is to put up a quality start," Cahill told MLB's official website. "I was a little bit better than last time, but at the same time, you'd like to at least get through six. Through the first four, I had the pitch count and I was going well enough that I was thinking I could go past that, but then I kind of let things unravel there."
Cahill is 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two career starts at Philadelphia, but his most recent came in 2012.
Saturday's loss was the 10th in 13 games for the Phillies (6-12), who have totaled five runs and batted .214 over the past four.
Ryan Howard has been one of the biggest culprits, going 1 for 10 over his last three games to drop his average to .189. His last two hits, however, have been two-run homers.
Howard is 0 for 9 with six strikeouts against Cahill.
Jerome Williams (1-1, 3.71) gets the ball seeking to win consecutive starts. He allowed three runs with six strikeouts over six innings of Tuesday's 7-3 victory over Miami. That came six days after he was tagged for five runs and two homers in five innings of a 6-1 loss to the Mets.
"It was good going out there, throwing and locating pitches where they needed to be," Williams said.
The right-hander is 0-3 with a 7.50 ERA in his last four starts against the Braves.
Nick Markakis, who is batting .471 (16 for 34) during a 10-game stretch, is 6 for 13 against Williams.
Kelly Johnson also has fared well in this matchup, going 8 for 21 (.381).
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| | Last Updated: 5/4/2024 3:28:24 AM EST. |
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