Morning Chop: Braves News 4/27
By Jeff Schafer
Detroit Tigers 10, Atlanta Braves 0: Anibal Sanchez’s 17 strikeouts new team record
April 26, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Atlanta Braves second baseman Dan Uggla (26) throws his batting glove after striking out to end the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Detroit won 10-0. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Anibal Sanchez struck out 17 batters, setting a new team record, as the Tigers beat the Braves, 10-0 , tonight at Comerica Park.
The Tigers right-hander broke the 44-year record set twice in 1969 by Mickey Lolich, who struck out 16 against California and Seattle that season.
Sanchez (3-1) struck out two in the first inning, three in the second (around a double and a walk), two in the third, one in the fourth and two more in the fifth. He then rung up two more in the sixth and seventh and struck out the side in the eighth to set the record.
McCann’s return will strengthen Braves
At 15-6, the Braves have the major’s best record, not to mention the best run differential (+41), and things are about to get even better for them. Brian McCann, who has yet to play this season following offseason shoulder surgery, will begin a rehab assignment with the team’s Single-A Rome affiliate on Friday night.
When healthy, the 29-year-old McCann ranks among the game’s elite catchers. From 2006-2011, his first six full seasons, he hit a combined .287 /.359/.491 while averaging 22 homers and 3.4 Wins Above Replacement, made the NL All-Star team each year, and was even the MVP of the 2010 game, when his three-run double provided all of the NL’s scoring. Though he did hit 20 homers in 487 plate appearances last year, McCann slumped to a .230/.300/.399 showing due to a torn labrum and a cyst, both in his right (throwing) shoulder; the injury made him prone to subluxation(partial dislocation) while hitting. He was particularly ineffective over the final two months of the season (.201/.280/.261 after July 31), so when the Braves made it to the NL wild-card game, he rode the bench while David Ross started.
Atlanta Braves Series Preview: @ Detroit Tigers
Saturday, 1:05: Kris Medlen vs. Rick Porcello
Medlen is 1-2 with a 2.16 ERA, .222 AVG, and 1.16 WHIP. He got off to a rough start of the season, and didn’t seem to have the command he usually posses. Of late, that has changed and he seems to be getting back into a 2012 look again.
Porcello has been terrible so far with an 0-2 record, 11.08 ERA, .383 AVG, and 2.00 WHIP. He has atrocious numbers across the board and to top it all off he has just three strikeouts to three walks on the season. He has started three games and has compiled just 13 innings.
If there is a good matchup for the Braves this series it is this one.
Sunday, 8:08: Mike Minor vs. Doug Fister
Minor has been plugging along like we all hoped he would so far this season. He has a 3-1 record, 1.80 ERA, 2.17 AVG, and .92 WHIP. He is averaging just over 6 innings per outing which is good to see and his strikeout to walk ratio is sitting at 21:3. That’s pretty impressive stuff. Minor is looking to have his best season so far this year per the wise Ben Duronio ofCapital Avenue Club.
Fister is 3-0 with a 2.00 ERA, .228 AVG, and 1.07 WHIP. He has quality starts in every single one of his appearances so far this season. Fister isn’t striking out too many guys but he doesn’t walk that many either.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Braves quotes after Friday’s loss to Tigers
**FREDI GONZALEZ
Have you seen Sanchez that good before?
“Yes, I have. He was pretty good, and we weren’t. And that’s about it, boys. That’s all I’ve got for you. You guys have a good one.”