Braves Sunday Lunch Chop
By Fred Owens
tries to stop the rot tonight as the Braves face
Doug Fisterand the Tigers. Photo Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
A quick roundup of Braves news from around the web.
Washington Post
Medlen struggles for Braves in 7-4 loss to Tigers; Atlanta has lost 7 of 10
DETROIT — Kris Medlen and the Atlanta Braves were probably due for a rough stretch.
It’s happening now for a team that looked like the class of the National League less than two weeks ago.
Medlen allowed a tiebreaking homer to Omar Infante in the fourth inning, and the Braves lost to the Detroit Tigers 7-4 on Saturday.
Atlanta has won only three of seven after its 12-1 start, and Medlen allowed five runs to the Tigers, matching a career worst.
ESPN
The Detroit Tigers have moved past their slump, and will look to get on an extended run with Doug Fister on the mound against the road-weary Atlanta Braves.
The unbeaten right-hander will try to lead the Tigers to a three-game sweep when they take on the Braves in the finale of Atlanta’s 10-game trip.
Following a season-worst four-game skid, Detroit (12-10) has won three of four after Omar Infante and Jhonny Peralta hit two-run homers in a 7-4 victory Saturday.
Tigers use the long ball to trump Braves
DETROIT (AP) — After pitching into the seventh inning in his best start of the season, Rick Porcello was asked if the comfortable weather at Comerica Park helped his breaking ball.
The Detroit Tigers right-hander had a different explanation.
“I just think I stayed in the game long enough to get a feel for it today,” Porcello said.
New York Times
Suddenly Struggling, Braves Fall to Tigers
Kris Medlen and the Atlanta Braves were probably due for a rough stretch. It is happening now for a team that looked like the class of the National League less than two weeks ago. Medlen allowed a tiebreaking homer to Omar Infante in the fourth inning, and Atlanta lost at Detroit, 7-4, on Saturday. Medlen allowed five runs to the Tigers, matching a career worst.
Atlanta has won only three of seven since starting 12-1.
MLive.com
Detroit Tigers Gameday: Doug Fister seeks sweep of Braves on national ‘Sunday Night Baseball’ stage
GAME NOTES
— The Tigers host Atlanta tonight on ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball,” and Orel Hershiser and John Kruk will be in the broadcast booth. The game is subject to blackout restrictions.
— The Tigers have totaled 17 runs in the first two against the Braves after scoring a combined 16 runs in their previous seven games.
— The Braves have lost seven of 10 and will try to to avoid a season-worst fourth straight defeat tonight. They’ve scored a combined 12 runs in those seven losses.
Rant Sports
Much Has Changed for Atlanta Braves Since Winning Streak Ended
What a difference ten games can make. Ten games ago the Atlanta Braves were riding a ten game winning streak and were on top of the baseball world. Today marks the tenth game of a very tough road trip and they are barely on top of the National League East. During the past ten game stretch it seems a lot has changed and they might not be considered the best team in Major League Baseball anymore. Certainly they are not playing as that right now. But how much has really changed?
Are the Atlanta Braves Road-Weary?
Since starting the season with a major league-best 12-1 record, including a 10-game winning streak, the Atlanta Braves have gone 3-7 over their past 10 games, nine of them on the road.
After dropping the second game of a two-game home series with the Kansas City Royals, the Braves hit the road and proceeded to lose three of four to the Pittsburgh Pirates before winning two of three against the Colorado Rockies and then losing the first two games of this weekend’s three-game set with the Detroit Tigers.
4/28/13 Mitch’s Free MLB Baseball Pick
The Detroit Tigers and the Atlanta Braces meet on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball for game three of their series in Detroit at Comerica Park.
The Detroit Tigers are looking for the sweep as they have taken the first two games in their series against the Braves. On Saturday Omar Infante had three hits including a home run, Jhonny Peralta hit a home run, and Austin Jackson and Miguel Cabrera each had two hits as the Tigers scored seven runs on 13 hits in the win. Starting pitcher Rick Porcello allowed five hits and three earned runs while striking out five over 6.1 innings of work to get the win and go to 1-2 on the year while Jose Valverde earned his second save of the year. For Saturday’s game the Tigers start Doug Fister who hasn’t lost this season. For the year Fister has allowed 23 hits and six earned runs while striking out 17 over 27 innings of work for a 3-0 record and a 2.00 ERA.