The Atlanta Braves looked really good during the past week,
going 4-2 overall against a pair of tough division opponents.
Monday through Wednesday of last week, Atlanta went 2-1 in a
series against the Phillies and followed that with a 2-1 showing against the
New York Mets. When the dust settled after those two series, Atlanta was left
with a 12-8 overall record, which isn’t bad in my book. (Atlanta was scheduled
to play a fourth game against the Mets on Sunday, but bad weather prompted that
game to be postponed to May 28.)
As of Monday morning, the Braves were sitting in third place
in the National League East. Ironically, the two teams ahead of them in the
division standings were the first-place Mets and the second-place Phillies. The
Mets were 14-6 overall, and the Phillies were 14-7 overall, as of Monday
morning.
Monday marked the start of a long road trip for the Braves,
who were set to play a four-game series against the Reds Monday through
Thursday in Cincinnati. Tomorrow (Friday) through Sunday, the Braves will head
to the “City of Brotherly Love” for a rematch against the Phillies. The Braves
will get a day off this coming Monday before they head to Citi Field in Queens,
N.Y. on Tuesday to play a three-game set against the Mets.
Atlanta third baseman Ryan Flaherty is continuing to tear up
opposing pitchers. As of Monday morning, he had the second-highest batting
average in the Major Leagues – .362, which was four points higher than league
leading Mookie Betts, who plays right field for the Red Sox.
On the pitching side of the ledger, based on ERA, Mike
Foltynewicz has been Atlanta’s best arm. As of Monday morning, “Folty” had an
ERA of 2.53, a 1-1 overall record with 26 strikeouts to his credit. Atlanta
right-hander Brandon McCarthy has looked really good early on as well.
While looking at Atlanta’s schedule earlier this week, I
noticed that the Braves will be playing the Padres in Atlanta on Fathers Day,
which falls this year on Sun., June 17. If your father is a baseball fan, and
if he’s never been to Atlanta’s new stadium, SunTrust Park, tickets to this
game might be a good gift idea.
If your mother is a baseball fan, she doesn’t have the same
sort of luck as the dads this year. Mothers Day falls on Sun., May 13, but
Atlanta will be playing in Miami on that day.
With that said, word around the campfire is that Atlanta is
due for some big roster changes. They signed Jose Bautista to a one-year
contract last week, and he could be on the 40-man roster by the time this
column hits the streets. Ronald Acuna, Atlanta’s top young prospect, is also
expected to join the team soon, as is injured catcher Tyler Flowers, who has
been out hurt for the start of the season.
On paper, the addition of all three of these players should
give Atlanta a big boost, but I hope they don’t mess up the chemistry that
Atlanta has had going for it earlier this season. Only time will tell, and you
can bet that the team will go through even more, unexpected, changes as the
season progresses.
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