Clippings Sunday, August 2, 2015 Braves.com

Braves fall to Phillies, lose 6th straight

By Mark Bowman and Nick Suss / MLB.com | @mlbbowman |

PHILADELPHIA -- Cameron Rupp and Freddy Galvis each drilled three-run homers to provide Aaron Nola more than enough support as he bounced back from a rough first to lead the surging Phillies to a 12-2 win over the Braves on Saturday night at Citizens Bank Park.

Rupp's fourth-inning off Matt Wisler's first-pitch slider provided the Phillies a lead they would not relinquish on the way to improving to 12-2 since the All-Star break. Nola surrendered Nick Markakis' third career leadoff home run during a two-run first inning and then ended his five- inning performance with four consecutive scoreless .

"When you get a lot of hits, it always looks like there is energy," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said of his team's recent offensive outburst. "When you face a tough that's really doing a good job then everybody likes to say that there's no energy. But our guys have not let down and they look like, they feel like, they're going to win which is a nice feeling"

The Braves, who have lost six straight and nine of their past 10 games, were not as fortunate with their rookie starter. Wisler surrendered a career- high seven earned runs and allowed eight hits before exiting with two outs in the fifth inning. He had allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his previous seven career starts.

"[The Rupp home run] really changed the whole game," Wisler said. "Eight-hole hitter with the pitcher on deck, I've got to execute that pitch better. That cost us pretty badly."

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Howard surge: Ryan Howard has been showing shades of his former self as of late, dominating opposing pitching over his seven-game hitting streak. With three hits Saturday, Howard improved his total over the streak to 12 and is batting .462 in the stretch. Perhaps the finest indicator of how well he has been playing came in the sixth inning when, with runners on second and third and one out, Howard was intentionally walked for the first time since April 16.

"If you've been watching all year I've had some good swings, I've had some bad swings and good stretches where I haven't had balls fall in, but had really good swings," Howard said. "So now it's being able to find real estate."

Rookie woes: As the Braves carry three rookies in their starting rotation, they will be subjected to the growing pains Wisler experienced as he struggled with his offspeed pitches and was forced to rely on his fastball while frequently getting into hitter's counts. He recorded strikes with just five of the 15 sliders he threw through the first four innings. But the slider he hung to Rupp caught enough of the plate to propel the Phillies.

Supporting the rookie: The Phillies must've felt guilty for being shut out in Nola's Major League debut, because the team has provided plenty of run support for the rookie in starts two and three. After scoring 11 runs on Sunday in Chicago, tying a then-season high, the Phillies set a new season high with 12 runs on Saturday, earning Nola his second career win.

"It's pretty amazing to watch," Nola said. "Those guys, they're averaging so many hits and runs a game. As a pitcher it's awesome to go out there and step on the mound and throw when you have a lead, especially that big of a lead that the guys are putting up."

More offensive woes: Tallying a pair of first-inning runs and then going scoreless the rest of the way simply added to the frustration the Braves have felt while totaling 16 runs over their past 10 games. They recorded three hits -- Markakis' homer, a Freddie Freeman double andA.J. Pierzynski's RBI single -- before Nola recorded his second out. But they added just three more hits the rest of the night.

"Every single day, we come to the yard, just hoping for something to click," Freeman said. "When you get off to a nice start in the first inning like that, you think it's going to be the day, but obviously it wasn't today. So, we've got to come back tomorrow and hopefully, it changes."

QUOTABLE "I keep teasing him. Everybody else is hitting home runs and he's hitting singles and doubles. I don't know. How do you explain it?"-- Mackanin, on Howard's hot streak

"You've got to develop a winning attitude and losses like this aren't good for anybody." -- Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, on the Braves' losing skid.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

The Braves have attempted to match David Aardsma up in favorable situations, but they were unable to do so when he was forced into long relief duty on Saturday. Aardsma surrendered more runs (five) during the sixth inning than he he had in the 20 previous innings since joining the Braves in June.

ANDRELTON EXITS

Andrelton Simmons injured his right thumb diving for Odubel Herrera's single to shallow left field in the seventh inning. The Braves shortstop did not return in the eighth inning. X-rays were negative, but the club will not update his status until Sunday morning.

WHAT'S NEXT

Braves: Julio Teheran will attempt to lower his 7.24 road ERA when Atlanta and Philadelphia conclude this four-game series on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. ET. Howard and Domonic Brown could pose a problem for Teheran, who has allowed a .309 batting average to left-handed hitters this year..

Phillies: After setting a career high in last time he faced the Braves, Adam Morgan will take the hill for the Phillies. Morgan is 2-2 with a 4.05 ERA this season. With a win Sunday, the Phillies could execute their fourth sweep of the season and third since the All-Star break.

Braves must deal with rotation's growing pains

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | August 1st, 2015

PHILADELPHIA -- Some of the patience the Braves will need to maintain the remainder of the season will be necessitated by carrying three rookies in their starting rotation. Thus they will be subject to endure some of the growing pains Matt Wisler felt while experiencing the toughest start of his young career during Saturday night's 12-2 loss to the Phillies.

"This is a part of the growing pains," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "This is exactly what you're going to get. You're going to have two or three good outings by a young pitcher and then have a bad one. I know with [Wisler] the learning curve is short. He'll go back out in four or five days and get it back on track."

On the way to losing for the ninth time in their past 10 games, the Braves saw Wisler surrender a career-high seven earned runs and eight hits in just 4 2/3 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander's most costly mistake came when he hung a slider that eight-hole hitter Cameron Rupp drilled over the center-field wall for a three-run homer with two outs in the fourth inning.

Wisler acknowledged the significance of making this mistake at a point where Phillies starting pitcher Aaron Nola was on deck. Had he taken a more careful approach to Rupp, the game might have evolved in a much different manner. But this go-ahead three-run shot simply fueled the momentum the Phillies extended when they recorded three hits, including a Odubel Herrera solo homer, against Atlanta's young starter in the fifth.

"He's got great makeup and a great competitive approach," Gonzalez said. "He'll rattle off five or six good starts. That's just part of being a young pitcher. There is no place you can put [young ]. There's not a simulator. You've got to allow them to experience these games and let them learn from it."

Wisler had allowed two earned runs or fewer in four of his previous seven career starts and he had completed seven strong innings against the Cardinals in his last outing. Now, he will have to bounce back from this outing much like he did after allowing six runs in just four innings at Nationals Park on June 25. Six days later, he held the Nationals scoreless over 5 1/3 innings.

"I've just got to learn from this," Wisler said. "Whatever I was struggling with, I've got to fix it in the bullpen and then come out ready for my next start."

With their current rotation consisting of three pitchers -- Wisler, and Williams Perez -- who had never made a Major League start before this season, the Braves are likely destined for some more nights like this. But they hope the sometimes painful maturation process will prove beneficial to the club's future.

"I went through growing pains when I was a rookie," Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman said. "They're going to go through growing pains and we're going to be waiting for them on the other side. This is what the team is all about. We're going to go through our rough stretches and we're in the midst of one right now. They're going to have a couple of rough starts, but hopefully they can get right back on the horse and see if we can start winning some ballgames in the last few months." X-rays negative on Simmons' right thumb

By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | August 1st, 2015

PHILADELPHIA -- Andrelton Simmons received some encouraging news after an X-ray was performed after Saturday night's 12-2 loss to the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. But the Braves will not update the status of the Gold Glove shortstop's injured right thumb until Sunday morning.

Simmons's right hand was partially wrapped as he made his way back toward the visitor's clubhouse after undergoing the X-ray exam that revealed no fracture to his right thumb. But he underwent futher evaluation in the trainer's room and told a club representative that he would wait until Sunday to discuss his situation.

Simmons injured his thumb when he dove to catch Odubel Herrera's single to shallow left field in the seventh inning. He remained in the game, but did not return to the field in the eighth inning.

Pedro Ciriaco and Daniel Castro are the roster members who could fill the shortstop position in Simmons' absence.

Teheran looks to slow down Morgan, Phillies

By Nick Suss / MLB.com |

Sunday at Citizens Bank Park, Julio Teheran and Ryan Howard will see what happens when history comes face to face with a hot streak.

Howard and his Phillies will host Teheran and the Atlanta Braves for the final game of a four-game weekend series between the teams. Historically, Howard has had no answer for Teheran, against whom he is 3-for-18. Though two of those three hits were home runs, Howard is 0-for-11 since his last home run versus Teheran.

Howard is in the middle of one of his hottest streaks of the season. He is on a seven-game hitting streak with three multi- games and at least one RBI in six of those games. This is Howard's longest hit streak since May 6-14, 2014.

Three things you need to know about this game

• It isn't just Howard who Teheran dominates among Phillies. Teheran has a lower ERA at Citizens Bank Park (1.74) than any other park at which he has started multiple games. In 20 2/3 lifetime innings in Philadelphia, Teheran has allowed only 13 hits and four earned runs. He has struck out 14 versus just two walks and is carrying a WHIP of 0.726 in the park.

• Adam Morgan will start for the Phillies. An Atlanta-area native, Morgan will be making his second start against his hometown team in 2015. Morgan earned a loss last time he faced the Braves, but the blemish on the record doesn't tell the whole story. The rookie left-hander tossed seven innings, a career high, and allowed two runs, on a pair of solo home runs. He also struck out five batters, a mark he hasn't achieved again since.

• The Phillies' offense has erupted since the All-Star break. Over this 14-game span, the team is 12-2 in large part due to the more than five runs per game the offense has put up. As perspective, the Phillies offense averaged 3.71 runs per game in the 14 games prior to the break.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braves quotes after Saturday’s 12-2 loss at Philly

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

PHILADELPHIA — Braves quotes from Matt Wisler, Freddie Freeman and Fredi Gonzalez after Saturday’s 12-2 loss at Philly.

**FREDI GONZALEZ

On Wisler’s performance and the loss

“The breaking ball to Rupp was probably the biggest one. Out over the plate, just kind of spun in the air, and he hit it out of the ballpark. All the home runs they hit were with people on base, a lot of damage. Their guys right now, they’ve been swinging the bats since they came out of the All- Star break. They’re really good, young talented team that’s hot and swinging the bats. We made some mistakes over the plate against them, got behind in the count a couple of times, and they made us pay for it.”

Is this just an inevitable part of the growing pains for such a young team “This is part of the growing pains. This is exactly what you’re going to get, you’re going to get two or three good outings by a young pitcher, then you’re going to get a bad one. Hopefully — I know with Wis the learning curve is short – he’ll go back out in five days and get it back on track.”

Does it make it any easier to stomach losses like this when you know the moves were made for the future, or is just as hard as it is to watch?

“No, it isn’t (easier). Because you’ve got to develop, you’ve got to develop a winning attitude, and losses like this are not good for anybody.”

On rookie Aaron Nola’s performance for Phillies

“At one point it seemed like him and Wisler were almost the same guy. Identicial delivery, same type of pitchers. He got away with a couple of pitches that we didn’t. He’s got a lot of pitches.”

On Wisler’s rebound

“As far as that’s concerned, his psyche, he’s got great makeup. Competitive. And he’ll be fine. He’ll rarrle off five or six (good) starts. That’s just part of being a young pitchers. There’s no place you can put them, there’s not a simulator. You’ve got to let them go out there and let them experience these games and learn from it, and he’ll be better off in the long run.”

Markakis gets leadoff homer and you get two runs in first, are you thinking maybe tonight the offense breaks out?

“Yeah, you figure, let’s not stop scoring. But Nola did a nice job, he kind of settled down and gave them five solid innings.”

** MATT WISLER

On his outing

“I didn’t have great stuff today, but the big one was that three-run home run (by Rupp). Eight-hole (hitter), pitcher on deck, I’ve got to execute that pitch better. Cost us pretty bad with that one.”

Just a hanging slider?

“Yeah, tried to get ahead with it. It spun, it didn’t break, it stayed up and he put a good swing on it.”

Did you feel like you had the stuff to battle through it after giving up run in first, the next couple of innings solid?

“Yeah, I didn’t feel that bad. The first few innings went pretty well. The first inning a double, quick run, didn’t really make too bad a pitches that inning. Reallyl the one pitch (to Rupp, three-run homer) is really the one I’m upset about it. Obviously frustrated with the loss; I needed to pitch better today for the team to get a win. But that three-run homer, it just can’t happen.”

Did rough fourth inning carry over to the fifth?

“I’m just trying, my goal, my mindset for that fifth inning is just get through the sixth inning, keep it at five runs, keep us in the game. I just went up there and kind of got behind, (Herrera) put a good swing, I threw him a pitch right down the middle.”

On going through growing pains and how everyone – Smoltz, Glavine, everyone – has gone through it

“Yeah, I’ve just got to learn from it, take some stuff – whatever I was struggling with – and fix it in the bullpen this week, come back out ready for the next outing.”

**FREDDIE FREEMAN

On getting off to promising start, then nothing after 2 runs in 1st inning

“That’s the second time we’ve done that in the last few days, where we got a couple of runs in the first inning, three to four hits, then nothing seemed to happen after that. You know, every single day we come to the yard, keep putting in our work and just hoping for it to click. And when you get off to a nice start in the first inning like that, you think it’s going to be today. But obviously it wasn’t today, so, come back tomorrow and hopefully it changes.”

On Wisler’s performance

“Wis left a couple of balls up, fell behind in a couple of counts and had to throw the heater. Good hitters don’t miss ‘em in there. They’re hot; they’re the hottest team in right now, so you make a mistake, they’re going to make you pay for it. They had the big hits, a couple of three-run homers. They just got guys on and got them in today.”

On dealing with growing pains for young pitchers, young players “Obviously the first few years of my career, I’m used to winning. Last year was the first year of losing, now we’re in the midst of losing again right now. But you know that I went through growing pains when I was a rookie, they’re going to go through growing pains, and we’re going to be waiting for them on the other side. This is what the team is all about, we’re going to go through our rough stretches, and we’re in the midst of one right now. Hopefully they have a couple of rough starts but then get right back on the horse and see if we can start winning some ballgames the last couple of months.”

Stumbling Braves hammered again by Phillies, 12-2

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

PHILADELPHIA — When the Braves traded away Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson, two of the few productive veterans from an already sputtering offense, they surely knew there would be a lot of nights like this by the offense the rest of the season.

And when they followed that up less than a week later by trading away starting pitcher and relievers Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan, they had to know there would be plenty of nights like this by the pitching staff the rest of the way, too.

Both of those components of the Braves were hard to watch Saturday night, when the pummeled the Braves 12-2 at Citizens Bank Park, handing them their sixth consecutive loss, ninth in 10 games, and 16th in 20 games. Nick Markakis hit a leadoff homer in a two-run first inning, but the Braves were outscored 12-0 from there.

Braves rookie Matt Wisler (5-2) got knocked around for eight hits, seven runs and two homers in 4 2/3 innings, after not allowing more than four earned runs in any of his previous seven starts.

“This is part of the growing pains,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “This is exactly what you’re going to get — you’re going to get two or three good outings by a young pitcher, then you’re going to get a bad one. Hopefully — I know with Wis the learning curve is short – he’ll go back out in five days and get it back on track.”

The Braves were also hopeful that shortstop Andrelton Simmons escaped serious injury to the thumb of his throwing hand when he hurt it trying to make a diving catch in shallow left field late in the game. X-rays taken afterward were negative, but Simmons had the thumb wrapped in ice after the game.

A team official said an update on Simmons’ status wouldn’t be announced until Sunday.

Wisler was 4-0 with a 3.30 ERA in five July starts, including a win at St. Louis on Sunday — the only win for the Braves so far on a 10-game trip that mercifully concludes Sunday afternoon.

Staked to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, Wisler gave up a run in the bottom of the inning and four in the fourth, including a three-run homer by Cameron Rupp on a first-pitch slider.

“I didn’t have great stuff today, but the big one was that three-run home run (by Rupp),” Wisler said. “Eight-hole (hitter), pitcher on deck, I’ve got to execute that pitch better. Cost us pretty bad with that one.”

Odubel Herrera added a solo homer to chase Wisler from the game in the fifth, and reliever David Aardsma gave up five runs in one inning of work, including Freddy Galvis’ three-run homer in the five-run sixth inning.

The Braves have been outscored 21-5 by the Phillies the past two nights. Rookie starter Williams Perez gave up nine runs in 4 1/3 innings of Friday’s 9-3 loss.

“Obviously the first few years of my career, I’m used to winning,” said Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, who doubled and scored in the first inning on A.J. Pierzynski’s single. “Last year was the first year of losing, now we’re in the midst of losing again right now. But you know that I went through growing pains when I was a rookie, they’re going to go through growing pains, and we’re going to be waiting for them on the other side.

“This is what the team is all about. We’re going to go through our rough stretches, and we’re in the midst of one right now.”

Knowing there will be growing pains doesn’t make ugly losses such as this one any easier to swallow, Gonzalez said.

“No,” he said, “because you’ve got to develop, you’ve got to develop a winning attitude, and losses like this are not good for anybody.”

The Braves had three hits and two runs before Phillies rookie Aaron Nola recorded his second out. But after that it was all one-sided for the last- place Phillies, whose improbable 12-2 record since the All-Star break is the best in the majors. This after the Phillies lost 15 of their final 18 games prior to the break.

Sixteen runs in 10 games. That’s what the Braves offense has produced during this 1-9 skid, including three runs or fewer in all 10 games. They got off to such a promising start against Nola, making just his third major league appearance and start. Markakis homered on the second pitch, the second homer for the veteran who went a career-high 355 at-bats between homers before hitting his first as a Brave on July 20. It was Markakis’ third career leadoff homer and first since last season with Baltimore.

One out later, Freeman doubled and scored on Pierzynski’s single for a 2-0 lead. The Braves had three hits, two runs and only one out in the first inning.

They would get just three hits the rest of the night.

Nola (2-1) was charged with five hits, two runs and no walks in five innings.

Wisler gave up a run in the first inning after a leadoff double by Cesar Hernandez. After Ryan Howard’s two-out single in the first, Wisler retired the next seven batters. But Maikel Franco’s leadoff double in the fourth started a whole lot of trouble for Wisler, who allowed an RBI single and a walk before Rupp’s two-out, three-run homer.

Phillies 12, Braves 2

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

How the game was won: Nick Markakis hit a leadoff homer in a two-run first inning for the Braves, but the Phillies reeled off 12 unanswered runs the rest of the night in a 12-2 rout at Citizens Bank Park. It was the sixth consecutive loss and 16th in 20 games for the Braves, who’ve won once on a 1o-game trip that ends Sunday. Rookie Matt Wisler (5-2) was knocked around for eight hits, seven runs and two homers in 4 2/3 innings, after allowing four earned runs or fewer in each of his previous seven major league starts. Reliever David Aardsma gave up five runs in one inning.

Number: 16. Runs for the Braves in the past 10 games. They are 1-9 in that stretch and have scored three runs or fewer in every game.

What’s next: The Braves wrap up a 10-game trip and four-game series with a 1:35 p.m. game. Julio Teheran (6-6, 4.71 ERA) will face Phillies left- hander Adam Morgan (2-2, 4.05).

Pierzynski, 38, still going strong as Braves’ primary catcher

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

PHILADELPHIA – The oldest starting catcher in the majors, 38-year-old A.J. Pierzynski, still isn’t showing any sign of a late-season fade. Despite the fact that he’s playing far more games than he or the Braves envisioned when he signed last winter to be a backup and mentor to Christian Bethancourt.

Pierzynski took over primary duties after an impressive spring dovetailed into a .422 average in April with three homers and 14 RBIs in 12 games. He hit just .145 with no homers and three RBIs in 17 games in May, and skeptics assumed that Pierzynski had come back to reality and would end up somewhere around the career-worst numbers he produced in 2014 with the Red Sox and Cardinals (.251, five homers, 37 RBIs, .625 OPS).

Instead, Pierzynski bounced back with a .275 average, eight extra-base hits and a .413 slugging percentage in 22 games (80 at-bats) in June, and revved it back up to .359 with seven extra-base hits (two homers) and a .500 slugging percentage in 21 games (78 at-bats) in July.

Entering Saturday night’s game against the Phillies, when he made his 69th start at catcher in the Braves’ 104th game, Pierzynski had a .294 average with 24 extra-base hits (six homers), 31 RBIs and a .765 OPS. It would be his highest average since hitting .300 in 2009, and his highest OPS since an .827 with the White Sox in 2012, when he had a career-high 27 homers and won an American League Silver Slugger award.

Pierzynski could become just the 14th player age 38 or older in more than a century (since 1910) to play 100 or more games while catching at least 90 percent of those games, according to the Baseball Reference play index.

The Braves received some trade interest in Pierzynski before Friday’s non-waiver trade deadline, but they had decided they wouldn’t move him unless a team made an unexpected, blow-their-doors-off proposal. Pierzynski has meant so much to the Braves’ rebuilding team and particularly their young pitchers, team officials didn’t want to go the rest of the season without him around to guide a staff that seems to get younger with every roster move.

Pierzynski has been known to be cantankerous in the past, but with the Braves the grizzled veteran has been a positive influence even if he’s not particularly enjoyed watching veterans traded away recently as the team’s won-lost record has plummeted.

“I said to him, hey, you’re going to have to have a lot of patience here the next 50, 60 games,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “I said, you’ve got a starting rotation where (Shelby) Miller is your veteran with 3 ½ years. You’ve got a bullpen with Aardsma and Frasor, but other than that (all are inexperienced). You’ve got an infield with (Freddie) Freeman as your veteran at five years. You’ve got (Jace) Peterson, (Andrelton) Simmons is what, three (years)? (Adonis) Garcia has got three weeks, when he plays (third base). “He said, ‘I still don’t have to like it.’ I said, you don’t have to like it, just remember you’ve got, what 16-plus (seasons)? Just have a little patience. We (traded) five major leaguers on this road trip.”

After the Braves traded pitchers Alex Wood, Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan to the Dodgers on Thursday, on the heels of a trade that sent infielders Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson to the Mets last week, Pierzynski was asked what message he’d have for the team going forward.

“Having been through this a few times, you just try to tell the young kids to stick with it,” he said. “I mean, there’s nothing you can control, there’s nothing you can do about it unless you’re a guy that has a no-trade (clause) or 10-5 (service time trade-veto rights) or whatever it is, then you can control what you do. But if you’re a part of a deal and a team wants to move you, they’re going to move you no matter what. So, the guys who are still here, we’re going to go out and fight and do the best we can.

“It stinks to see Woody and JJ and Avi and those guys — Kelly and Uribe, those guys — get moved. Because they’re good players and they’re friends, and they’re guys you went to battle with. To see them go on is a different feeling in here. But the young guys we brought up are talented, and hopefully they get a chance to earn their spot here in the big leagues.”

Braves’ roster turnover has been dizzying

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

PHILADELPHIA – The roster churn by the Braves has reached dizzying proportions.

When Braves rookie starting pitcher Williams Perez was reinstated from the disabled list before Friday’s game, it was the 20th individual roster move made between the team’s 25- and 40-man rosters since the current 10-game trip began July 24. The Braves’ 160 roster moves this season ranked second in the National League behind the Dodgers’ 215.

As of Saturday, only 11 members of the current 25-man Braves roster were on the opening-day roster, only four of whom were with the team in 2014.

Left-hander Matt Marksberry allowed two hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings of his debut Friday against the Phillies, the 13th Brave to make his major league debut this season.

Marksberry also was the 52nd player used by the Braves this season, extending the franchise record already set this season. The record prior to this season was 50 players used by the 2007 Braves. They’ve already used 13 more players than they did in the entire 2014 season.

A day later, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez smiled when he related his thought as Marksberry came jogging in from the bullpen with two runners on base and one out in the fifth inning. Gonzalez had not seen Marksberry in the thick, black sports glasses that he wears while pitching, and the manager’s first thought was the resemblance to Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn from the movie Major League.

“I said, ‘Oh, here we go, boys,’” Gonzalez said, laughing.

Teheran brings road skid to Philly, where he’s thrived in past

By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

PHILADELPHIA – Julio Teheran will face the surging Phillies at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, and at first glance that looks like a recipe for disaster the way things have gone for Teheran on the road this season.

The Braves’ opening-day starter last won a road game on opening day, and he’s 1-5 with a 7.24 ERA in 11 road starts, the highest road ERA among National League starters and second-highest in the majors. He’ll face a last-place but resurgent Phillies team that was 11-2 since the All-Star break before Saturday, batting .280 and averaging just over five runs per game in that span.

But in case you’re tempted to write off Sunday’s game and look ahead to Monday’s homestand opener against the Giants, there is something else to consider: Teheran has thrived at Citizens Bank Park. He’s 2-1 with a 1.74 in three career starts at the stadium, his best ERA at any ballpark where he’s pitched more than once.

Then again, he hasn’t pitched at Philadelphia this season. And Teheran never struggled on the road in the past the way he has this season, when the disparity between his home and road statistics has been rather remarkable. And instead of evening out over the course of the long season, that disparity remained as severe as you are likely to ever see from a pitcher.

Teheran is 5-1 with a 2.37 ERA in 10 home starts, the 10th-best home ERA in the NL.

To recap, that’s tenth-best ERA at home, where he’s allowed three home runs in 64 2/3 innings, and a league-worst ERA on the road, where he’s allowed 15 homers in 59 2/3 innings. One other thing: Teheran will face a lineup Sunday likely to have up to six left-handed hitters or switch hitters. Against lefties this season, he’s allowed a .309 average, .395 OBP and .498 slugging percentage (compared to .233/.300/.386 by righth-handed hitters).

After limiting the Marlins to one run in six innings on opening day at Miami, Teheran has gone 0-5 with a 7.88 ERA and .329 opponents’ average in his past 10 road starts, and 0-4 with an 8.29 in his past six. In his first start on the 10-game trip that ends Sunday, Teheran allowed five hits, five runs, two homers and four walks in five innings of a 7-3 loss Tuesday at Baltimore.

So, what to expect Sunday?

“I’m not even (thinking) that far ahead,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said before Saturday’s game. “And I know he’s pitching here against a lot of left-handed hitters. I know him and (pitching coach) Roger (McDowell) came in after his sidework — I think it was Thursday — and Roger was really excited about his (session). But again, (taking it from the) side to the game sometimes doesn’t correlate. But he was excited about it.”

In landing Olivera, the Braves dared to dare

By Mark Bradley - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

If nothing else, I’m awed by the Braves’ audacity. They just sent a very good 24-year-old starting pitcher and a 21-year-old infielder rated their No. 1 prospect to Los Angeles, and they threw in their latest and a left-handed reliever.

In return: A big-league reliever who’s hurt; a minor-league starting pitcher; a draft pick and a 30-year-old Cuban infielder who has never played an MLB game. I’m not sure any other team would have considered such a trade, let alone swung it. But that’s not to say what they did was crazy.

Dan Szymborski of ESPN and Ben Lindbergh, formerly of Baseball Prospectus and now of Grantland, are two of the sport’s keenest analysts. They were asked about the transaction that shipped Alex Wood, Jose Peraza, Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan — and also ’s contract — to the Dodgers, essentially for Hector Olivera. Neither writer, you should know, was wild about it.

“I’m not sure I understand,” Lindbergh wrote in an email. “Unless they think he’s about to be the next (Jose) Abreu — and at his age, Olivera will only be useful for so long — it doesn’t seem like they got a ton back for Wood and Peraza.”

Wrote Szymborski: “Olivera’s not really a prospect or a core piece you build around. The reality is that he’s played very little baseball in the last two years, and he’s going to be 31 next season — he’s already in his decline years!”

I agree that Olivera is a major risk. I haven’t seen him play, and I daresay (to use a Chipper Jones word) you haven’t, either. The Braves have. They offered $40 million to sign him over the offseason, but were outbid by $22.5 million by the Dodgers. Obviously those evaluators — Andrew Friedman, who made his reputation with Tampa Bay, runs the show in L.A. — rated him highly, too.

Please know that John Hart, the Braves’ president of baseball operations, and assistant general manager John Coppolella didn’t do this on a whim. By design, theirs had become an organization a-swim in young pitching, but with only the faintest vestige of power. (The Braves traded their No. 2 and No. 4 homer-hitters — Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe — to the Mets last week for more young pitching.)

The Braves rank last in the majors in homers and slugging percentage. There’s no prospect apt to hit 20 homers in a big-league season. Olivera has that potential. He could be the guy to protect Freddie Freeman and drive home those singles hitters, and he’s regarded as big-league ready.

The Braves will owe Olivera roughly half of that $62.5 million. (The Dodgers are covering his $28 million signing bonus and this year’s $2 million in salary.) For five years of what the Braves believe will be productive hitting, they’ll pay $6.5 million per annum. The unwanted Chris Johnson is slated to make $7 million next season.

Why sacrifice Wood and Peraza? The Braves loved the former’s tenacity, but worried that funky biomechanics have taken a toll. (His sinker had lost 2 mph in two years; his rate was down 23 percent from last season.) Peraza is a singles-hitter who can run but doesn’t walk. (His on-base percentage at Triple-A Gwinnett was a pedestrian .318.)

The Braves believe they have a passel of young pitchers with more sustainable futures than Wood and at least one middle infielder (Ozzie Albies, now in Single-A) who projects higher than Peraza. That’s why this trade was made.

Be advised that Szymborski, who questioned the return, was impressed by the method. “The strict draft caps and international signing bonus caps have made it a little harder to rebuild with prospects,” he wrote. “With that route gone, teams need to be more creative.

“One way to do it is like in the Touki Toussaint trade (with Arizona last month): The Braves are essentially ‘buying’ a solid prospect (by assuming Arroyo’s contract). … The Olivera trade is the other way around, cashing in players for money. Instead of signing a guy and giving him a $28 million bonus, the Braves are trading players to get the guy that required the bonus.”

This wasn’t some flight of fancy. The Braves swapped two young assets deemed superfluous for the kind of hitter they’ll have to have if they’re to do anything of note. (Note that the free-agency market for bats this fall is seen as soft.) That they did it in such an exotic way suggests they can match brainpower with any organization, which is the best news yet. Sunday’s game: Braves at Phillies

By Carroll Rogers Walton - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia

When: 1:35 p.m.

TV/Radio: FSSO/680, 93.7, 106.7

Probable starting pitchers: RH Julio Teheran (6-6, 4.71) vs. LH Adam Morgan (2-2, 4.05)

What’s new: The Braves wrap up this 10-day, three-city trip with Teheran on the mound, which is a dangerous place for him to be. Teheran’s road struggles have been well-documented, and now his home-road splits are mirror images of each other. He’s 5-1 (with a 2.37 ERA) in 10 starts at Turner Field, and he’s 1-5 (with a 7.24 ERA) in 11 starts on the road. The Phillies might see a different Teheran than the one who dominated them for seven innings July 3 at Turner Field when he allowed one unearned run on seven hits in a 2-1 win over Adam Morgan. Teheran hasn’t won in four starts since then, going 0-2 with a 5.16 ERA. Ryan Howard is 3-for-18 (.167) against Teheran in his career. Two of those hits were homers, including the first one Teheran gave up in his major league debut May 7, 2011, a 3-0 loss to the Phillies.

UPCOMING

Monday: vs. Giants, 7:10 p.m.

Tuesday: vs. Giants, 7:10 p.m.

Wednesday: vs. Giants, 7:10 p.m.

Thursday: vs. Marlins, 7:10 p.m.

Friday: vs. Marlins, 7:35 p.m.

The Augusta Chronicle

Braves show creativity by adding payroll flexibility in Olivera deal

By David Lee

The deadline deal involving Atlanta on Thursday was met with hesitation by many Braves fans considering the loss of Alex Wood, but the trade shows a type of creativity that can help a mid-market team find small gains.

An underrated aspect of the trade for the Braves is the financial component after the paid offHector Olivera’s $28 million signing bonus. Olivera, Atlanta’s centerpiece return, was greatly desired by the front office before he signed with Los Angeles.

Rather than blowing the budget on Olivera during the signing process, the Braves now have him on the books for around $6 million a year for five years.

Reports during Olivera’s showcases indicated a potential solid-average hitter and defender, possibly somewhere around a .270-.280 average with on-base ability, 15-20-homer power and steady defense. His most likely position is third base.

In an era when offense is at a premium, gaining a bat capable of producing these numbers at that salary helps soften the blow of losing Wood and prospect Jose Peraza. It’s also easier for a mid-market team like the Braves to swallow the deal if Olivera fails to live up to the scouting reports.

There are risks involved for both teams, but Atlanta gave itself a softer cushion by maintaining flexibility while adding a bat.

PLAYER SWAP: There were reports during the trade’s coverage that the Dodgers were picking up a chunk of Bronson Arroyo’s contract, but the amount proved much smaller than initially anticipated.

ESPN’s Mark Saxon reported the amount of Arroyo’s contract the Dodgers are eating is only $500,000, and that includes the $4.5 million buyout on his 2016 option.

The Braves acquired Arroyo, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, in a previous deal along with pitching prospect Touki Toussaint. They bought the rest of Arroyo’s salary for the rights to Toussaint, who is a high-ceiling arm capable of fronting a rotation in the future if it all comes together. By leaving most of Arroyo’s salary on Atlanta’s books, it offers the impression that the Braves were confident in the main player swap of Wood and Peraza for Olivera.

There was a sense that Peraza fell behind players at his eligible positions already in the organization, such as Jace Peterson and Mallex Smith. Wood carries the risk of future injury and durability concerns when his workload increases with age.

Both teams had their reasons for the trade, and both sides carry risks. The Braves took on their part of the risk in an effort to add much-needed offense.

DEADLINE NOISE: While the Braves acquired Olivera, 30, as one of their first future hitters, they also targeted young, team-controlled bats at the deadline as a sign of the next step in their rebuilding process.

The Braves stockpiled young pitching with the knowledge that some of it could be used to add hitting.

The front office inquired on New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, according to the New York Post, an example of the type of bat they’d like to acquire.

While Julio Teheran remains a Brave past the deadline, they monitored the market and left open the possibility of trading him if the deal was appropriate.

Braves' Bird has stuff for majors despite little attention in trade

By David Lee

The prospect added to the Atlanta Braves system in Thursday’s trade was almost considered an afterthought, but Zachary Bird shows the arm strength and stuff to be a major league piece.

Bird, drafted in the ninth round in 2012 out of a Mississippi high school, was shipped to the Braves from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the big deal involving Alex Wood and Hector Olivera. He was given the attention of a mere throw-in name, but the pieces are there to contribute at the big league level.

The 21-year-old had a 4.75 ERA in 89 innings spanning 17 starts and 19 total appearances for Advanced-A Rancho Cucamonga in the hitter-friendly California League. That came after a 4.25 ERA in 24 starts and 26 appearances for Class-A Great Lakes last season.

The numbers aren’t eye-popping, but they tell the tale of a pitcher who is best suited in a bullpen.

Bird has a strong fastball capable of reaching mid-90s in short bursts with sinking action down in the zone. He pairs it with a good slider that shows some swing-and-miss ability. Beyond that, he has two inconsistent secondary pitches and struggles at times with control and command.

His two-pitch mix and arm strength profile well in a major league bullpen, though the Braves will continue to start him and try to develop the rest of his arsenal.

The Braves assigned Bird to Double-A Mississippi, his first taste of Double-A. It may be seen as an aggressive assignment considering his numbers, but the Braves are showing confidence in their new prospect by promoting him right away.

The assignment also offers a unique story. Bird is from Jackson, Miss., and the promotion allows him to pitch for the hometown Braves affiliate. Mississippi’s ballpark is only seven miles from the high school where he was discovered.

STRONG DEBUTS: Two recent high draft picks by the Braves were assigned out of the organization’s spring complex after strong professional debuts.

Atlanta’s 28th overall pick in June, right-hander Mike Soroka, was assigned to rookie-level Danville this past week after recording a 1.80 ERA with 11 in 10 innings in the Gulf Coast League.

Soroka, a 17-year-old drafted out of Canada, showed advanced feel for his stuff and excellent control by walking only one in his first pro assignment.

Braves 41st overall pick Austin Riley was also assigned to Danville this past week after hitting .255 with five doubles and seven home runs in 30 Gulf Coast League games.

The 18-year-old third baseman was drafted in June for his power potential.

Riley wasted no time impressing his new Danville coaches, either, by going 2 for 5 with a triple and RBI in his first game. UNDERRATED ARM: A Braves left-handed relief prospect with impressive stuff is quietly moving through the system and could make his way to the major leagues sooner than some expected.

Kyle Kinman was drafted in the 25th round last year out of Bellevue in Nebraska. Like his draft status, he’s flying under the radar as a relief prospect.

Kinman began this season at Class-A Rome and recorded a 2.00 ERA in 27 innings, earning an assignment to Advanced-A Carolina. After allowing just one run in 10⅓ innings, he was quickly assigned to Double-A Mississippi, and he has allowed one run in his first three innings.

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Trying to understand Braves' latest moves

BY GUERRY CLEGG

My first thought was, "Well, at least poor ol' Len Barker is finally off the hook."

So that's a bit of an overreaction. Trading Alex Wood, who represents everything the Braves are trying to become, was a steep price to pay for an unproven, 30-year-old rookie who is injured.

But Barker's place as the key player in the worst trade in Atlanta Braves history is safe. For those too young to remember -- or those who just like to relive that anguishing day in 1983 -- the Braves sent three of their best young players, , Brook Jacoby and Rick Behenna, to the for Barker, who was a once-decent pitcher, but the Braves apparently neglected to read the autopsy report on his right shoulder.

Actually, you can make a case for the Dan Uggla deal establishing a new low, and that's far more relevant now. The Braves sent Omar Infante and to the Marlins and then signed Uggla to the worst contract in team history. That deal, combined with the new worst contract in team history -- Melvin Upton for $75 million -- and the trade of Martin Prado for Justin Upton and Chris Johnson was the root cause of this mess that led to this complete organizational overhaul.

That overhaul has been the strangest period in franchise history. Keep in mind, we're talking about a franchise whose new owner rode an ostrich race around the bases, donned an Indian headdress, sent his manager on vacation and took over the club for a day, and got suspended for a year for tampering for boasting that he would not be out-bid for free agent Gary Matthews.

Oh, how we miss you, Ted Turner.

Back to Thursday's trade. By now, we shouldn't be shocked by anything. We were reminded of that on the eve of Opening Day, when the Braves sent closer and Melvin Upton to the for Matt Wisler and . Even before last week, the Braves had already set franchise records for players used and roster moves, and we're still a month away from September call-ups.

The Braves entered July as a legitimate playoff contender. Within just two weeks, they were making a strong push for last place. So it was widely believed they would become sellers at the non-waiver trade deadline of Friday at 4 p.m. Two veterans on one-year contracts, reliever Jim Johnson and catcher A.J. Pierzinski, were likely candidates. Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe had already been dealt to the for pitching prospects.

John Hart, Braves president for baseball operations, insisted the club wouldn't just start dumping players. Just two weeks ago, Hart had said, "If we can't get something that will fit the plan for what we want, we won't make a move."

It's hard to understand how giving up one of your best young starting pitchers fits into the plan. Yes, they have stockpiled depth in pitching prospects. Wisler, Williams Perez, , Mike Foltynewicz, Tyrell Jenkins. But that's all they are now -- prospects.

Essentially, the eight players the Braves and Dodgers swapped can be broken down into four trades.

• To get Jim Johnson, the Dodgers had to take on Bronson Arroyo and his contract. Johnson will be a free agency after the season. The $5-7 million they save on Arroyo's contract can be reinvested into a reliever in the offseason, maybe even Johnson. Win for the Braves.

• Getting Paco Rodriguez for Luis Avilan was an upgrade for the Braves, even if Rodriguez can't pitch until 2016.

• There was a swap of minor leaguers, the Braves giving up second baseman Jose Peraza for pitcher Zack Bird. On the surface, the Dodgers win this one. Peraza was supposed to be their second baseman of the future. Sisk has struggled commanding his lively fastball. But the Braves had lost confidence in Peraza, who failed to make progress this season and was ticketed for a return to the minors next year. It's always a worthy gamble to take on a young power arm. So that's perhaps a wash. Then consider that the Braves are also getting a bonus first-round draft pick from the , a team within their division, and that could be a double win for Atlanta. • So it boils down to Wood for Olivera, the veteran Cuban National player who should step into the lineup as soon as he comes off the disabled list. It's hard to gauge players by international stats. From all of his numbers, Olivera is a high-average hitter who doesn't strike out much. Former Brave compared him as a hitter to Yunel Escobar. Not a superstar but a solid hitter. We'll see. Olivera missed all of 2012 with injuries. He returned in 2013 but his power totals dropped substantially. Then he missed all of 2014 with injuries. He played just 19 games in the minor leagues for the Dodgers before going on the disabled list with a strained hamstring.

Seems like quite a risk in exchange for one of your best young pitchers.

Here's one potential positive. Perhaps trading a good young pitcher for a 30-year-old hitter is a sign that the Braves aren't conceding anything for 2016. The fact that they didn't trade Maybin is a positive sign. Two thirds of the outfield and three fourths of the infield are set with Maybin, Nick Markakis, Freddie Freeman, Andrelton Simmons and now Olivera. Jace Peterson provides infield flexibility. They could add a bat in left field and possibly third base or catcher and have a fairly solid lineup.

They no longer have the excuse of financial constraints. Uggla's contract finally comes off the payroll. The front office owes it to the fans to field a competitive team next season.

Either that, or bring back ostrich races.

Associated Press

Phillies hit 3 HRs in 12-2 win over Braves

By AARON BRACY (Associated Press)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The way the Philadelphia Phillies are playing right now, they believe they're going to win every game.

Odubel Herrera, Freddy Galvis and Cameron Rupp all homered as the surging Phillies set a season high for scoring in a 12-2 victory over the slumping Atlanta Braves on Saturday night.

Ryan Howard had three hits with a double and an RBI for the Phillies, who are a major league-best 12-2 since the All-Star break after setting a club record with 62 losses before it. At 41-64, Philadelphia still has the worst mark in baseball.

''It looks to me like everybody feels we're going to score runs,'' Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. ''They look like they feel they're going to win. We're on a pretty good roll right now.''

Maikel Franco had two doubles and two RBIs, Herrera had three hits and Cesar Hernandez and Galvis each had two as the Phillies pounded out 15 hits.

''We're stringing hits together in bunches,'' Mackanin said.

Nick Markakis homered for Atlanta, which has lost a season-high six straight - all on the road. The Braves have dropped 13 of their last 14 away from Turner Field, and nine of their last 10 overall.

''Losses like this are not good for anybody,'' Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Aaron Nola (2-1) settled down after the first inning to earn his second career victory in his third start. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed two runs and five hits in five innings, with three strikeouts and no walks.

''I'm glad I get to be part of all this and I'm blessed to be up here,'' Nola said.

Matt Wisler (5-2), also a 22-year-old rookie, had his worst start in his eighth career outing, allowing seven runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

''I've just got to learn from it and fix things in the bullpen,'' Wisler said.

Markakis homered leading off the game, and the Braves tacked on another run in the first on A.J. Pierzynski's RBI single for a 2-0 advantage. However, Nola gave up two hits in four scoreless innings after that.

''I was just leaving balls over the plate,'' Nola said. ''It was leaking too much over the middle and they were putting good swings on it. I just had to battle and keep the ball down.''

Phillies relievers Elvis Araujo, Hector Neris and Dalier Hinojosa then combined to allow one hit in four scoreless innings, lowering the bullpen's ERA to 1.68 in the last 14 games.

After getting a run back in the bottom of the first, Philadelphia totaled 11 runs in the middle three innings. Franco tied it at 2 in the fourth by running through the stop sign at third on Howard's single to center. Rupp put Philadelphia in front with his second homer of the season, a three-run shot to left, later in the inning.

Herrera's long drive to the second deck in right and Domonic Brown's RBI single scored two runs in the fifth, giving Philadelphia a 7-2 lead. Howard scored on Brown's hit after jarring the ball loose from catcher Pierzynski on a headfirst slide into home plate, a call that was upheld after a video review.

Galvis' three-run homer to right highlighted Philadelphia's five-run sixth inning against right-hander David Aardsma that put the Phillies ahead by 10.

BIG TURNAROUND

The Phillies have turned things around dramatically on the mound and at the plate in the second half.

Since the break, Phillies starters are 8-2 with a 3.64 ERA after ranking last in the majors by going 18-49 with a 5.44 ERA prior to it. Offensively, Philadelphia has averaged 5.57 runs since the break after scoring an MLB-low 3.38 runs per contest before the break.

''We basically just came out the second half with a brand-new mind-set,'' Howard said. ''The first half was the first half. We left it there and came out just playing loose, having fun.''

HOT HOWARD

Howard has 32 RBIs in his last 34 games.

''The confidence has always been there,'' Howard said. ''It's just a matter of finding real estate every once in a while.''

UP NEXT

The teams wrap up the four-game series on Sunday afternoon when Braves RHP Julio Teheran (6-6, 4.71) faces Philadelphia LHP Adam Morgan (2- 2, 4.05).

Braves-Phillies Preview

By ALAN FERGUSON (STATS Writer)

The Philadelphia Phillies have proved a handful for their opponents since the All-Star break, and the scuffling Atlanta Braves have provided them little resistance.

The Phillies will try to finish off their first four-game home sweep of the Braves in 66 years Sunday.

Philadelphia (41-64) improved to 12-2 in the second half with a 12-2 rout Saturday. Cameron Rupp andFreddy Galvis hit three-run homers in the club's eighth win in nine home games.

"It looks to me like everybody feels we're going to score runs," interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "They look like they feel they're going to win. We're on a pretty good roll right now."

The Phillies have averaged 5.6 runs since the break compared with a major league-worst 3.4 in the first half. They have also posted a 2.98 ERA in their last 14 games after also ranking last with a 4.83 mark before the break.

"We basically just came out the second half with a brand-new mind-set," said first baseman Ryan Howard, who is batting .462 with 12 RBIs in his last seven games. "The first half was the first half. We left it there and came out just playing loose, having fun."

The Phillies have outscored the Braves 25-6 in this series and will try to register their first four-game sweep in Philadelphia since Sept. 2-4, 1949, against the then-Boston Braves. They haven't swept any four-game series against Atlanta since May 5-8, 1995.

Adam Morgan (2-2, 4.05 ERA) will try to secure that feat for Philadelphia while building on his first win in five starts. The left-hander yielded two runs in six innings in a 3-2 victory in Toronto on Tuesday, his sixth major league outing. He was 0-2 with a 4.98 ERA in his previous four.

Morgan gave up two runs in seven innings at Atlanta (46-58) on July 3 but was outdueled by Julio Teheran (6-6, 4.71) in a 2-1 defeat.

Teheran, though, has labored mightily on the road, going 1-5 with a 7.24 ERA in 11 starts compared with a 5-1 record and a 2.37 ERA in 10 home starts. He gave up five runs in four innings in a 7-3 loss in Baltimore on Tuesday.

"I don't know if it's mental, but the numbers sure show it," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "We can't pick and choose when he pitches. You got a five-man rotation and we're on a 10-day road trip. Send him home for the 10 days? We got to get through it." Teheran went 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in his two starts in Philadelphia last season and is 4-1 with a 1.69 ERA in his last six overall matchups.

He'll try to snap Atlanta's six-game losing streak - its longest since an 0-8 road trip July 29-Aug. 6, 2014. The Braves have been outscored 36-10 in the last six.

They've dropped 13 of 14 on the road, failing to score more than three runs in any of the past 13. Atlanta has totaled 16 runs in its past 10 overall contests and is 4-16 since July 8.

"Every single day, we come to the yard, just hoping for something to click," first baseman Freddie Freeman said. "When you (score two runs) in the first inning like that, you think it's going to be the day, but obviously it wasn't today. So, we've got to come back tomorrow and hopefully, it changes."

Galvis, batting .413 in 12 games against Atlanta this season compared to .253 versus everyone else, is 2 for 6 lifetime against Teheran.