Brandon Beachy had a good first rehab outing at Gwinnett Friday night. Phot0 Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports

Gwinnett Edges Toledo, 3-2

Brandon Beachy allows two runs over 4.0 innings in no-decision on rehab start

Atlanta Braves’ right-hander Brandon Beachy tossed 4.0 innings of two-run baseball in his first rehab start for Gwinnett, and the Braves (19-30) scored two runs in the seventh to upend the Toledo Mud Hens, 3-2 on Friday night at Coolray Field. Back-to-back doubles by Joe Leonard and Paul Janish ignited the come-from-behind victory.

Following Beachy’s outing, Yohan Flande (W, 2-4) was excellent in relief. The lefty picked up the victory, tossing 3.2 innings of scoreless baseball. He allowed two hits and struck out four. Wirfin Obispo and Pat Egan dusted off the Mud Hens for the final four outs. Egan (S, 1) recorded his first save of the season, pitching a scoreless ninth.

Salcedo homers but M-Braves fall 6-2 in Mobile

A two-run home run for Edward Salcedo in the eighth provided the only Braves runs

The Mississippi Braves bats were baffled on Friday night by Diamondbacks prospect Archie Bradley as the Mobile BayBears evened the series at a game apiece with a 6-2 win at Hank Aaron Stadium.

Braves-Mets suspended, game to resume Saturday  (AP)

The New York Mets have never had a suspended game.

Still, manager Terry Collins is certain about how he’s going handle his pitchers for the completion.

The Mets rallied in the rain to tie their game with the Braves 5-5 in the bottom of the eighth inning Friday night after Evan Gattis had a two-run, pinch-hit single in the top half to put Atlanta ahead, but the teams will have to wait a day to finish it because the game was suspended after a 75-minute delay.

”I’m going to start the game with a relief pitcher,” Collins said. ”Otherwise, if the thing’s over in 10 minutes, the guy’s already warmed up, now he has to sit for an hour. That’s not what I want to happen.”

Braves-Mets suspended, game to resume Saturday (Fox Sports)

Fredi Gonzalez thought his Atlanta Braves would have the advantage going into the bottom of the eighth inning with the rain coming down and a gusty wind blowing.

The manager is not so sure now.

Evan Gattis had a two-run, pinch-hit single in the top of the eighth, then the Mets rallied to tie it in a downpour in the bottom half before the game between Atlanta and New York was suspended with the score 5-5 Friday night.

Braves vs. Mets suspended after eight innings, to resume Saturday (AJC Free side version)

Braves center fielder B.J. Upton’s fielding error on Daniel Murphy’s two-out RBI single in the eighth allowed Ruben Tejada to advance to third base, and he scored the tying run on Anthony Varvaro’s wild pitch in the dirt…er, mud.

“They were trying to get the game in, to complete that inning,” said Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, who said he didn’t have a problem with the umpires continuing play in the bottom of the eighth. “That’s the protocol. Try to get it through, try to keep playing and finish the inning. And give the home team either a chance to come back in the bottom of the inning or us to (record) three outs.. . .

Braves 3B coach Snitker out Friday for back exam (AJC Free Side)

Braves third-base coach Brian Snitker stayed in Atlanta to have his back examined Friday after experiencing what manager Fredi Gonzalez described as leg numbness or “drop foot” symptoms.

. . .drop foot, “is a general term for difficulty lifting the front part of the foot. If you have foot drop, you may drag the front of your foot on the ground when you walk. Foot drop isn’t a disease. Rather, foot drop is a sign of an underlying neurological, muscular or anatomical problem. Sometimes foot drop is temporary. In other cases, foot drop is permanent.”

May 5, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; New York Mets catcher John Buck (44) blocks a pitch in the dirt against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Usually when you hear seven-and-seven, you might be in a bar ordering a drink, but that phrase is apt for the Atlanta Brave’s upcoming three game series.  The Braves will take to the road again and travel to Citi Field in New York to take on the Mets in a three game series, and they’ll be trying to notch their seventh consecutive win.  The Mets, by contrast, will be trying to avoid their seventh straight loss as the two teams, exceedingly familiar with each other, will clash again.

The Atlanta Braves (28-18) have been back home at Turner field for the last two series, where they played in spectacular fashion with both timely hitting and adroit pitching.  Sweeping both the visiting LA Dodgers and the Minnesota Twins, the Braves not only needed those victories to push a touch further up atop the NL East, but they also needed to feel less worn out and recharge their batteries.  Before the home stand, the Braves had played just awful on the road, winning a dismal 13 of 19 after a wonderful start to the season at home.

The Mets (17-27) have been the polar opposite of Atlanta lately, playing awful at home, and the Braves will hope to take advantage of that slump this series.  The history and rivalry of these two teams is far-reaching though, and usually when they play each other their will to win always seems to transcend how they might be playing as a team at the time.  In other words, even though Atlanta is on fire, and the Mets are struggling, don’t expect a walk in Citi Field for the Braves.

Taking the bump for the Braves in game 1 of the series will be Kris Medlen (1-5, 3.03 ERA), who has fallen on a bit of ill luck in most of his outings, lacked the run support he’s needed to get those wins (2nd lowest in the majors), but has pitched pretty well.  Kris has had some control issues this season and given up an uncharacteristic number of early runs off the long ball, but he has improved with each game.  His last outing was a gem, where Medlen gave up only two hits and one unearned run in a seven inning jewel where he still didn’t get the win, being replaced prior to the Braves late inning surge.  When asked about Medlen’s pitching, manager Fredi Gonzalez, in his usually short, but sweet way said:

Medlen was outstanding.  You saw seven innings of him being the Medlen of last year.

I couldn’t agree more, and the Braves will hope that Kris continues to get back the form Braves fans grew so fond of in Medlen’s short season last year.  If the Braves play on the road like they have at home, Kris should also get the run support he’s desperately needed in previous outings.  During the Atlanta home stand and six game sweep, Braves combined for 34 runs on 53 hits, with 9 homers (including a grand slam by Evan Gattis), 5 doubles, and a triple.  Atlanta pitching was also very good, with Braves pitchers combining for a 2.9 overall ERA and 49 strikeouts.

Taking the mound for the Mets in game 1 will be Jeremy Hefner (0-5, 5.00), who has struggled this year along with all other Mets right handers.  He will be looking to turn his stats around, but history won’t be on his side.  Hefner gave up five runs on eight hits in just under three innings in his last outing against the Braves last September.  In games 2 and 3 of the series, respectively, the Braves will put up Mike Minor and Julio Teheran against Dillon Gee and Shaun Marcum.  Both Gee and Marcum are pretty good pitchers, but as mentioned earlier, are struggling this year along with all other Mets righties.  Mike Minor has been the Braves real ace this year so far, and Teheran, like Medlen, has improved with each game.

Of Note: The Mets have weapons in leadoff hitter Daniel Murphy (.302 BA), and the Braves arch-nemesis, David Wright (.293), but Ike Davis is struggling much like the Brave’s own BJ Upton, with Ike hitting just .147, and on a 1-for-38 slump.  BJ Upton is beginning to turn things around a touch, and homered (first since April 23) on Wednesday.  Justin Upton is tied with Baltimore’s Chris Davis for the MLB lead in homers with 14.  According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Upton became the first player in major league history to homer five times in his first five games with a team.  Jason Heyward is hitting .304 in just six games since returning from the DL last Friday.

Game 1 – Friday, 7:10 PM EST
NYM:  Hefner (0-5, 5.00 ERA)
ATL:  Medlen (1-5, 3.02 ERA)

Game 2 – Saturday, 7:15 PM EST
NYM:   Gee (2-5, 6.04 ERA)
ATL:   Minor (5-2, 2.78 ERA)

Game 3 – Wednesday, 8:05 PM EST
NYM:   Marcum (0-5, 6.59 ERA)
ATL:   Teheran (3-1, 3.99 ERA)

May 21, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) shakes hands with catcher Evan Gattis (24) after he delivered the game winning hit against the Minnesota Twins during the tenth inning at Turner Field. The Braves defeated the Twins 5-4 in ten innings. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

If three’s a crowd, then the Atlanta Braves have a crowd right now at the catcher position.  With Brian McCann back behind the plate on most outings, and Gerald Laird as the official/unofficial backup for Brian, the Braves have a decision to make.  What will Frank Wren and company decide to do with the white-hot Evan Gattis?  Everyone has an opinion on that of course, from Uncle John and Aunt Bertha, to pundits, reporters, so-called experts, armchair managers, die-hard fans and fair-weather fans.  From what I have heard, most are quick to say that if anyone has to go, it should definitely be Gerald Laird.

Let’s explore the subtle question within the main question first.  As far as having three catchers, is that such a bad thing under the circumstances?  Put simply, does anyone really have to go?  It’s rare to have a three catcher platoon going on any ball club, and it’s even more rare to have not just one, but three who have performed so well offensively. It’s easy to argue that you’d like to keep all three if possible, but is that possible?

As a six time All Star and five time Silver Slugger, we all know about Brian McCann’s prowess with the bat.  What you may not know is that Brian has also been in the top five in putouts every year of his career, and was number one in putouts in 2010.  I’m always surprised when Brian throws a runner out to hear some fans say something like, Wow, Brian threw that guy out!  He may not have the best arm in baseball for a catcher, but it’s not as bad as some think either.  Gerald Laird was 4th in putouts in 2009, but that is the only year being top five for him in a long, ten year career.  Because Evan Gattis is yet to be really tested as a day-in, day-out, defensive catcher, he doesn’t even factor into the defensive argument for me.  In fact, I would argue that his lack of experience behind the plate make him at best a 3rd string candidate defensively.  Offensively, there is no question in my mind that Brian McCann is the most well-rounded offensive tool the Braves have among their catching platoon.  Since Brian’s return to the Braves lineup, he has a BA/OBP/SLG line of .282/.383/.590, with an OPS of  .973!  That’s pretty good for just a short while back in the regular lineup, and not always catching every single game.

I understand the excitement surrounding Gattis right now.  After all, his story is the stuff TV movies are made of, and his recent clutch homers and 1st career Grand Slam are the kinds of offensive moments that make fans insist that Gattis never be out of the lineup, even if that means playing him in left field.  Evan Gattis is a decent outfielder, and he has a good amount of minor league experience with that, but he also needs a lot of work to become a good outfielder.  That’s not really a question anyway, with the trio of Up, Up, and a Hey doing the current work.  Gattis is a big guy, and where he will excel if given the chance, at least long term, is behind the plate.  Offensively, Gattis’ performance of late is certainly memorable, but while he is hitting on a BA/OBP/SLG line of .256/.308/.587, with an OPS of .895, Gerald Laird, for all the hard knocks he gets from fans, has actually performed decently as well with a line of .262/.340/.310 with an OPS of .650.  Gattis has better numbers offensively, but Laird has brought a wealth of experience and wisdom behind the plate handling pitchers, especially the young Julio Teheran.

If you weigh all those pros and cons, you may assume that the Braves would decide at some point to try and replace Laird, perhaps with some badly needed experience in pitching relief.  They may, but the other side of that coin is the fact that Brian McCann will be a free agent in 2014, and his high price tag may see him in some other uniform in 2014.  That said, is it possible the Braves try and hang on to all three catchers, platooning as needed, in an effort to try and have a Gattis/Laird duo next year?  Don’t rule that out!  I don’t personally wish to see that happen.  I would love to see a McCann/Gattis platoon if anything, but I know the business of baseball, and money issues tend to rule out any other considerations.

I think the high priority for the Braves right now is trying to get a handle on the relief pitching situation after the season long loss now of both Jonny Venters and Eric O’Flaherty.  I think the catcher trio problem will work itself out between this year and next, but we won’t likely see any move before that.  Some argue that Laird might be gone before next year considering the deep need for experienced relief, but I don’t think the Braves will make such a move with the other looming questions already mentioned.  I think also that if 25 man roster questions come into play, you will never see Gattis go down to Triple A.  He’s just too valuable a weapon for that.  Time will tell, but there are certainly some tough decisions the Braves are going to have to make, sooner or later.  It’s a tough decision, but a good problem to have at the moment.