Live Thread and Preview: Braves Marlins (Game 1)
Live Thread and Preview – Braves @ Marlins – Game 1
When you have the best record in the National League (2nd best in baseball), lead your division by 12 games, and have a magic number of just 9, a four game losing streak tends to make fans a touch antsy. No doubt the Atlanta Braves fans (85-57) feel that way after the team’s recent losses. They’ll hope to turn that around as Kris Medlen (12-12, 3.48 ERA) takes the mound in Miami for game 1 in a four game series against the the NL East’s last place Miami Marlins (53-88).
The Braves and the Marlins are probably getting tired of each other, having faced off in several series this year, the last one at the tail end of August. The Braves took that series, and will hope to turn their recent slump around this time. Medlen has pitched well lately, and will need to do the same tonight as the Marlins will put Henderson Alvarez (3-3, 3.95 ERA) on the bump with six days rest.
Alvarez (3-3, 3.95) has performed well on extra rest this year with a 2.25 ERA in two starts when resting for six days. Alvarez gave up a bunch of singles in his last outing against the Chicago Cubs, and the Braves will hope not only to turn around their recent slide, but hope Alvarez is prone again to giving up hits. Of course the Braves will need to turn their offense up a notch., having scored just 10 runs and batting just .156 over their four game skid.
I won’t go so far as to believe that Fredi Gonzalez reads our articles here on Tomahawk Take, but tonight’s lineup for the Braves is a breath of fresh air, and we’ve written numerous articles trying to piece together what baffling reasons Fredi has had for recent lineups. In Sunday’s game alone, the Braves first four hitters went a combined 0 for 15 in their loss the the Phillies, who swept the Braves. Tonight, Fredi Gonzalez will sit both B.J. Upton and Dan Uggla, and put Elliot Johnson back at 2B and Jordan Schafer back at the leadoff spot. Those changes alone might make all the difference. It’s also quite refreshing to see Evan Gattis‘ hot and heavy bat in the lineup again.
Game 1 Lineup
1. Jordan Schafer (L) CF
2. Justin Upton (R) RF
3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B
4. Evan Gattis (R) LF
5. Brian McCann (L) C
6. Chris Johnson (R) 3B
7. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS
8. Elliot Johnson (S) 2B
9. Kris Medlen (S) P
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