Atlanta Braves News: Chop, Box, Matt Kemp To Return, AJ Minter Back On DL
By Jeff Schafer
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Atlanta Braves are hot right now, red HOT I tell you! Three game winning streak puts the Braves at 4-6 for the 2017 season.
R.A. Dickey’s knuckleball was moving yesterday — I think we’ll continue to see Dickey’s knuckler be successful in the Atlanta heat. He pitched six innings, gave up two runs — both solo homers — seven hits, one walk and had six strikeouts. The other positive out of this, Braves catcher Kurt Suzuki and Dickey didn’t allow a wild pitch.
Braves bullpen continues to shine…yes, I didn’t think I would be typing that a week ago. Jose Ramirez, Arodys Vizcaino and Jim Johnson teamed up for three innings pitched, one hit, zero walks and four strikeouts. The pen has now pitched 13 consecutive scoreless innings.
“Bransby” came out to play on Saturday. The combo of Dansby Swanson and Brandon Phillips turned a terrific double play in the 7th inning. Phillips also had a homer in the 1st inning.
For a full recap, check ours out here.
Braves WIN 4-2
| Batting | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | PA | BA | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ender Inciarte CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .222 | .239 | .444 |
| Dansby Swanson SS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .159 | .196 | .250 |
| Freddie Freeman 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | .359 | .432 | .692 |
| Nick Markakis RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .297 | .409 | .514 |
| Brandon Phillips 2B | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .289 | .357 | .447 |
| Adonis Garcia 3B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | .179 | .220 | .282 |
| Kurt Suzuki C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .083 | .294 | .083 |
| Chase d’Arnaud LF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .333 | .429 | .333 |
| R.A. Dickey P | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .333 | .333 | .333 |
| Jose Ramirez P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Arodys Vizcaino P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Jim Johnson P | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Team Totals | 31 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 33 | .290 | .333 | .484 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO | HR | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R.A. Dickey, W (1-1) | 6 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 3.86 |
| Jose Ramirez, H (2) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.45 |
| Arodys Vizcaino, H (3) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Jim Johnson, S (3) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1.50 |
| Team Totals | 9 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 2.00 |
Braves pitching prospect Minter lands on DL for adductor strain
Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Everyone in the Braves camp is extremely excited about pitching prospect A.J. Minter. The lefty was drafted by the Braves in the 2nd round (of the 2015 MLB draft out of Texas A&M University.
Minter hasn’t pitched above Double-A, but some thought heading into Spring Training that he had a chance to break the 2017 season with the Atlanta Braves. It wasn’t a performance stat that cost him his opportunity with the Atlanta Braves, it was elbow tightness. The elbow issues cost him the entire ST as he didn’t throw a pitch in a game.
His elbow concerns went away, but now another injury popped up. This time it’s a groin strain. He’s currently pitching with the Florida Fire Frogs (Braves high Single-A affiliate). He pitched one inning, gave up no runs, no walks and had two strikeouts.
These minor injuries are a little concerning, but hopefully they don’t linger. This guy is the real deal and could be up in Atlanta before the season ends if he can stay healthy.
"Just when Braves relief prospect A.J. Minter was progressing toward a full recovery from the elbow tightness that sidelined him for much of spring training, the left-hander has landed on the disabled list for an adductor (groin) strain."
"The high Single-A Florida Fire Frogs placed Minter on the seven-day DL two days after he pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts in his first appearance."
"Minter, 23, was in major league spring training, but missed several weeks with tightness near his pitching elbow caused by nerve inflammation. He wasn’t healthy to pitch in any Grapefruit League games before being sent down minor league camp."
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Tomahawk Take Editor’s Note: Matt Kemp is able to come off the 10-day DL on Wednesday and all indications are that he will. Kemp joined MLB Network on Friday and told the hosts that he plans to return to the Braves lineup on April 19 (next Wednesday).
AJC’s David O’Brien also said on twitter Sunday morning that he also thinks Kemp will be in the lineup on Wednesday unless “barring some unexpected setback.”
Braves left-fielder has been dealing with a sore hamstring. Jace Peterson and Emilio Bonifacio have been filling in for Kemp in LF. Prior to the injury, Kemp was hitting .500/.529/1.125 with two homers, four doubles, and four RBIs.
It’s going to be nice to get the 32-year-old back in the Braves lineup when we take on the Washington Nationals.