Atlanta Braves Clippings Tuesday, April 21, 2015 - Angels

Atlanta Braves Clippings
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Braves.com
Inbox: How much should Braves read into early success?
Beat reporter Mark Bowman fields questions from Atlanta fans
By Mark Bowman / MLB.com | @mlbbowman | April 20, 2015
Should we increase expectations for the Braves after the first two weeks? Or is this just a peak in a season that will have many valleys?
-- Eric S., Gilbertville, Iowa
It is never wise to put much stock in results compiled within a small sample size against a select group of competition. But if nothing else, this
season's first two weeks have provided some indication that this club is capable of producing more offensive excitement than most had predicted.
Still, before allowing yourself to be fooled by the nine homers totaled over the past five games, remember this lineup's DNA indicates this will be a
team that needs to consistently manufacture runs. Thus, you can either be concerned that the top two spots in Atlanta's batting order have
produced a .163 batting average and a .219 on-base percentage. Or you can be encouraged by the fact that the Braves have managed to collect
eight wins despite getting little production from the top of the lineup.
Fortunately, the schedule has allowed either Julio Teheran, Alex Wood orShelby Miller to start nine of the season's first 12 games, though Eric
Stultsand Trevor Cahill are tabbed to start the first two games of this week's series against the first-place Mets. Stults is capable of being an
effective fifth starter, but it is not exactly comforting to pair him in the same rotation as Cahill, whose presence might further tax an already-thin
bullpen that has compiled more innings than every National League club other than the Marlins and Giants.
With Matt Wisler and Mike Foltynewicz waiting in the wings with Triple-A Gwinnett, the Braves have some internal options to aid either their
rotation or bullpen. Atlanta's roster versatility provides manager Fredi Gonzalez options to continue tinkering with his lineup in an attempt to
continue generating consistent offensive success.
It is far too early to be overly excited by the results or dismayed by trends. But through this season's first two weeks, the Braves have at least
provided some indication that there could be more excitement than many have anticipated seeing at Turner Field this summer.
With the shedding of future dollars and Dan Uggla's burdensome contract expiring at the end of the year, what are the Braves going to do with
this money prior to 2017?
-- Jeremy J., Forest City, N.C.
How important was it to get rid of Melvin Upton Jr.'s contract at the expense of Craig Kimbrel? Even without its financial commitment to Upton,
Atlanta is already committed to pay $68.05 million to seven players in 2017, and this does not account for the salaries Miller and Wood could gain
that year. It is often said you can never have enough pitching, but given all of pitching prospects acquired over the past few months, it seems safe
to assume a significant focus will be placed on finding outfielders.
If Mallex Smith's early-season success with Double-A Mississippi is indicative of what he might do over the next couple months, he might be just a
year away from becoming Atlanta's center fielder. But with Braxton Davidson still in the early stages of his pro career, the Braves will likely use
some of their available funds on a power-hitting outfielder who could fill the left-field spot the next couple seasons.
With the emergence of Jace Peterson, does that make Jose Peraza expendable? Or do you see Peterson shifting to third base upon Peraza's
promotion to the big league roster?
-- Asa P., St. Paul, Minn.
Because of his athleticism, versatility and speed, Peterson is a nice player to have on your roster. But his presence should not in any way influence
the long-term plans for Peraza, who has the potential to be an impact player on Atlanta's roster. Looking ahead to future seasons, it seems more
likely that Peterson could serve as a utility player, while Peraza is positioned at second base and Rio Ruiz at third base.
How impressive does Mike Minor need to be once he comes back from shoulder discomfort (again) to provide a decent trade value?
-- Brad C., Atlanta
Given that his left shoulder has been an issue for more than a year now and there is no indication of when it might prove healthy enough for him to
pitch again, Minor will need to display reliability and durability over an extended stretch before another club would be willing to provide much in
return. Though the latest setback fueled doubts, the Braves have no choice but to maintain hope that he can provide at least some value later this
year.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Braves’ reps meet with Palm Beach County about spring training
By Tim Tucker - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Braves’ search for a new spring-training home in Florida has taken them back to their past.
Real-estate consultants representing the Braves recently met with officials in Palm Beach County, where the team trained from 1962 until leaving
for Disney’s Wide World of Sports complex near Orlando in 1998.
While there is no indication at this point that the Braves would be able to make a deal to return their spring-training camp to Palm Beach County,
the meeting with officials there — first reported by the Palm Beach Post — underscores the team’s commitment to searching both the east and
west coasts of Florida for a possible new spring home. The team’s lease with Disney expires after two more years.
The Braves have engaged commercial real-estate services firm JLL — the same firm working with the team on its new stadium and mixed-use
development in Cobb County — to “assist us (with) site finding in Florida,” Braves president John Schuerholz said.
“They have talked to a number of communities to find out what the level of interest is or might be,” Schuerholz said. “… They visited not only Palm
Beach County but several other counties as well.”
Please see MyAJC.com later today or Wednesday’s Atlanta Journal-Constitution for more on this story.
Prospect Primer: Weekly look at Braves’ top minor-leaguers
By Carroll Rogers - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Matt Wisler, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: Braves’ No. 1 prospect by Baseball America
Wisler got a little fastball-happy in his second start for Gwinnett, allowing three runs in a 30-pitch second inning against the Charlotte Knights. He
got more comfortable with his off-speed pitches as the game went on and would have allowed only one more run if not for an error in right field
that cost him two unearned runs. Wisler is 0-1 with a 3.72 ERA in two starts for Gwinnett.
Jose Peraza, 2B, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: Braves’ No. 2 prospect by Baseball America
Peraza had the kind of up-and-down week you might expect from a 20-year-old playing in Triple-A, not to mention one whose name was
mentioned in trade rumors — though Braves sources have indicated they don’t intend to trade him. One night Peraza was lining a triple to right
center field off Carlos Rodon — who was called up to the White Sox a few days later — and the next he was striking out three times in four at-bats.
Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: Braves’ No. 3 prospect by Baseball America
Foltynewicz acknowledges he was too eager to impress in spring training, playing for a new organization after coming over from Houston in the
Evan Gattis trade. He’s working on a few adjustments pitching coach Roger McDowell gave him to focus on at the end of spring training and has
seen some fruits of his work: allowing only two earned runs in 8 2/3 innings in his first two starts.
Rio Ruiz, 3B, Double-A Mississippi
Ranking: Braves’ No. 11 prospect by Baseball America
Ruiz is day-to-day after being hit by a pitch in the right knee on Friday night, but it’s not considered serious. He collected his first three-hit game of
the young season two days earlier on April 15 against Jackson, going 3-for-5 with a double.
Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, Double-A Mississippi
Ranking: Braves’ No. 13 prospect by Baseball America
After some shoddy defense cost Jenkins five unearned runs in his debut for Mississippi, he had some rough luck again his next time out. Jenkins
gave up five runs — this time in six innings of work — and only two of them were earned. A Daniel Castro throwing error in the sixth allowed one
run to score and kept the inning alive for Gabby Guerrero (nephew of former All-Star Vladimir Guerrero), who followed with a two-run homer off
Jenkins.
Manny Banuelos, LHP, Triple-A Gwinnett
Ranking: No. 14 prospect by Baseball America
Banuelos not only showed better command in his second start for Gwinnett, he struck out seven batters in five innings, while allowing only one run
against Charlotte. The seven strikeouts was his highest total since Banuelos struck out seven for Scranton Wilkes-Barre — the Yankees’ Triple-A
affiliate — on May 13, 2012. That was his second-to-last start of that season before he was shut down and eventually underwent Tommy John
surgery.
Ozhaino Albies, SS, low Single-A Rome Braves
Ranking: No. 8 prospect by Baseball America
The 18-year-old switch-hitting native of Curacao is playing his first full season of professional baseball and just beginning to find some rhythm at
the plate. He went 2-for-5 on Friday night in Augusta, raising his season average to .200, before the rest of the series got rained out. He has drawn
four walks to give him a .294 on-base percentage, to go along with three stolen bases.
Braxton Davidson, LF, low Single-A Rome
Ranking: Braves’ No. 12 prospect by Baseball America
Davidson had a rainy weekend (and three postponed games) to think about his three-strikeout game Friday night against Augusta. Patience has
served him well so far this season, though. He’s drawn eight walks in his first eight games to give him a .357 on-base percentage despite hitting just
2-for-20 (.100) including a home run to start the season.
Mallex Smith, CF, Double-A Mississippi
Ranking: No. 17 prospect by Baseball America
Smith tormented the Jackson Generals with four straight multi-hit games, including two three-hit games. He went 10-for-20 (.500) in the series,
with a game-tying two-run homer, a triple, four RBIs, four stolen bases, and seven runs scored. Smith, the speedster who came over from the
Padres in the Justin Upton deal, made a couple of diving catches in shallow center field Saturday night against Jackson as well.
Andrew Thurman, RHP, High-A Carolina Mudcats
Ranking: No. 20 prospect by Baseball America
Thurman took a loss in his second start for the Mudcats after allowing only two runs in five innings, and leaving with the Mudcats down 2-0. He
scattered eight hits, walked only one and struck out three. He is 1-1 with a 1.64 ERA in two starts.
Veteran Gomes impacting Braves on and off field
By David O'Brien - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TORONTO — Jonny Gomes was in the visitor’s clubhouse early Saturday morning, in his Braves uniform pants and a gray T-shirt with ‘MERICA
across the chest in red, white and blue. He prepared his bats, making sure the tape on the handles was just right. Prepared his chewing tobacco,
making sure the honeyed mix he adds to it was just right.
He had already been in the film room, going over Blue Jays relief pitchers.
Gomes is big on preparing. And he’s as cerebral in his approach as any hitter you are likely to come across. Which one might not suspect, if one is
prone to stereotype based solely on appearance – his many tattoos, the surfer-dude sneakers and shorts he wears during spring training, the
intensity he oozes in the batter’s box, where he obsessively un-straps and re-straps his batting gloves after every pitch, and almost violently tugs at
the bill of his helmet.
He looks as if he’s just as inclined to catch the next pitched ball and chew on it as he is to swing at it.
But it’s work he does before he gets to the plate, not just bat speed and considerable strength he retains at age 34, that allows Gomes to remain an
effective platoon left fielder – four RBIs including a bases-loaded double in Sunday’s 5-2 win at Toronto — and bench guy whose homer Friday was
his 10th as a pinch-hitter, tops among active major leaguers.
Preparation, kids. The grizzled Gomes swears by it.
“As a (lineup regular), you go over the starting pitcher,” Gomes said. “When you’re pinch-hitting, you’ve got to go over the whole bullpen. Most
likely I’m going to get the lefty in my role. So I’ve got to have all the lefties covered. And then you’ve got to follow the game, to see what sequence
the catcher is calling. Because I always say, when you pinch-hit it’s probably going to be off someone in the bullpen, it’s a new pitcher but the
catcher’s going to be the same. He’s going to continue that sequence that he’s had success with. So you can’t just not pay attention during the
game. You’ll see sequences throughout the game where he has three or four 3-2 counts and all of them heaters (fastballs). Or is the guy calling a
game backwards, and every 2-0 is a changeup?”
Gomes thrives against left-handed pitching. Fredi Gonzalez starts him in left field against lefties, with occasional starts against right-handers to
keep sharp. He’s 6-for-23 (.261) with a double, two homers, seven RBIs and a .565 slugging percentage in nine games including six starts.
He’s played more than 1,110 games including 310 starts as a designated hitter, so he assisted Freddie Freeman when the first baseman made his
first DH start Sunday at Toronto. Freeman went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
“I talked to Jonny and he told me every time (the Braves) are playing defense to stand up and move around,” Freeman said. “Don’t hit in-between
(innings), act like you’re playing in the game. So I was always standing up, moving around, acting like I was in the game. It worked out, I stayed
focused and stayed in the game, and I was able to perform.”
As much as he’s helped on the field, Gomes has had even more of an impact in the clubhouse, according to teammates. A profound impact, from
the day he reported to camp and announced “I’m here to win.” He soon let the rest of the Braves know, in so many words, that he expected them
to have a similar attitude and to hustle. Always, always hustle.
That respect-the-game, always-run-it-out expectation even carries over to opponents. When an opposing hitter recently hit a pop-up and carried
his bat while jogging halfway to first base, Gomes could be heard – from both dugouts — shouting from left field for the player to run. It amazed
Braves teammates, and no one on the opposing team objected.
While the intensity is apparent to any observer, Gomes’ sharp, dry humor is something only a select group are aware of – teammates, friends, or,
say, the audience at the recent Braves Leadoff Luncheon, where one-liners from Gomes and veteran A.J. Pierzysnki had the crowd of fans and
sponsors, as well as teammates and coaches, laughing out loud.
“He looks like that Neanderthal type, but this guy’s (bleeping) bright,” Gonzalez said. “He knows the game really well. He’s funny, too. Friday (after
pinch-hitting for Cameron Maybin) he goes, ‘Does that mean I’m going to center field’? He wants to play center field. He comes around, ‘Hey, I’m
going to center?’ He goes, ‘Hey, I’ll be in center field by the All-Star break, don’t worry about it….
“In one of the games in (the opening series at) Miami, they brought in (lefty Mike) Dunn to face (Nick) Markakis, (Jace) Peterson, Freeman. And
(Gomes) has a bat and batting gloves, standing right next to me. And he goes, ‘Hey, I’m ready.’ I said, you think I’m going to pinch-hit for Markakis
and Freeman? And he goes, ‘Hey, that’s up to you, but I’m ready.’”
Gonzalez laughed as he recalled the incident. “You’ve got to like that. Has his bat, helmet in his hand.”
Freeman said late in spring training that Gomes flat-out changed the clubhouse culture and made the Braves believe they could win. Picked by
many pundits to lose 90 games and finish no better than fourth in the National League East, the Braves are 8-4, including 5-1 on the road, entering
Tuesday’s series opener against the Mets in New York.
Braves backup Kelly Johnson is a longtime former lineup regular still getting used to a part-time role. In his 10-year career with seven major league
teams, he played with plenty of players more accomplished than Gomes, but arguably none who’ve so mastered the art of preparing mentally and
maximizing one’s aging physical skills.
“I was just asking him about it yesterday,” Johnson said. “I said I want to get inside your head; we’ve got to talk about pinch-hitting. He’s just really
good at doing his homework, watching guys he might face, trying to pick out some tendencies. As the at-bat’s going along, something pops up,
something he saw on film, and he’s ready.
“It’s easy when you’re playing every day to just kind of show up and play on ability. Your rhythm and timing kind of stays, you can rely on that,” said
Johnson, who hit 16 or more homers six times in a seven-year span. “But as your at-bats become a little more less regular, you’ve got to give
yourself a little bit of an edge. He already is as mentally prepared every day as anybody, and that rubs off on all of us. But in terms of his pinch-hit
at-bats, he does his homework.”
Braves pinch-hitters lead the NL with a .385 average (5-for-13), after ranking 14th with a .179 average in 2014. Of the Braves’ five pinch hits, four
were by Gomes (2-for-3) or the rookie he’s taken under his wing, Peterson (2-for-2).
Next for Braves: New York Mets
By Carroll Rogers - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A quick look at the New York Mets, the next Braves’ opponent beginning Tuesday night in a three-game series at Citi Field in New York:
Keep an eye on: The standings. The Mets enter the series 10-3 and atop the NL East, matching their best record through 13 games in franchise
history. (They were 10-3 in 1986 when they won the World Series and in 2006, their last trip to the playoffs when they made the NLCS. The Mets’
eight-game winning streak is their longest since a 10-game win streak July 5-17, 2008.
Who’s hot: Michael Cuddyer is on a seven-game hitting streak, during which he’s 11-for-25 (.440) with three doubles, a triple, a home run and six
RBIs.
Who’s not: Curtis Granderson is hitting just .132 (5-for-38) on the season.
Braves connection: Sean Gilmartin made his major league debut on April 10 against the Braves, who drafted him in the first round in 2011.
Gilmartin coaxed a groundball from Nick Markakis and struck out Freddie Freeman that night. Gilmartin retired all seven Braves he faced over two
games in that series. The Braves traded Gilmartin to the Twins for Ryan Doumit in December of 2013 and a year later, he was picked up by the Mets
in the Rule 5 draft.
In the news: Since the Braves last saw the Mets, David Wright pulled his hamstring and landed on the DL. On Sunday, the Mets lost two more
players to injury: reliever Jerry Blevins, who fractured his left forearm after getting hit by a Dee Gordon line drive, and catcher Travis d’Arnaud, who
broke his right hand when he got hit by a pitch. D’Arnaud won’t be around this series to be thrown out on another incredible play by Andrelton
Simmons (see highlights from April 10 and August 27, 2014). The Mets will turn to prospect Kevin Plawecki, a supplemental first round pick in 2012
out of Purdue. Blevins, by the way, has been the Mets’ best lefty out of the bullpen, holding left-handers hitless in 14 at-bats this season.
Series preview: Braves at Mets
By Carroll Rogers - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The pitching matchups for the Braves’ series at the New York Mets:
Tuesday
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: SPSO
Probable starting pitchers:
Braves RH Trevor Cahill (0-1, 15.43) vs. LH Jonathan Niese (1-0, 1.59)
Comment: Cahill comes in looking for redemption for his first start with the Braves, when he gave up four earned runs and walked three without
making it out of the third inning in an 8-2 loss to the Marlins. In his defense, it had been two weeks since he pitched his previous game of spring
training for the Diamondbacks, March 31, before he was traded to the Braves. Niese took a no-decision in a 5-3 loss to the Braves on April 10 but
only one of the three runs he allowed was earned.
Wednesday
Time: 7:10 p.m.
TV: SPSO
Probable starting pitchers: Braves LH Eric Stults (0-1, 6.30) vs. RH Dillon Gee (0-1, 7.59)
Comment: Braves fourth and fifth starters are 0-2 with an 8.05 ERA in three games this season, and Stults is responsible for the bulk of that. He’s
been hit at a .324 clip in two starts, including three home runs, and has yet to make it past the fifth inning. Gee knows the feeling. He has been the
weak link of the Mets’ rotation so far, allowing nine runs including, three home runs, in 10 2/3 innings over starts against the Braves and Marlins.
Thursday
Time: 1:10 p.m.
TV: SPSO
Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Julio Teheran (2-0, 3.71) vs. RH Bartolo Colon (3-0, 2.25)
Comment: Teheran is looking to get back on track after an odd outing in Toronto when he gave up a career-high four home runs. He’d tweaked his
knee trying to avoid a line drive back up the middle the outing before on April 11 against the Mets but said that had no bearing. The Braves have
won each of his first three starts. The 41-year-old Colon is tied with teammate Matt Harvey for the NL lead in wins, including a 4-3 win against the
Braves when he limited the Braves to three runs in seven innings and drove in the winning run with his first RBI since 2005.
Atlanta Business Chronicle
Braves to induct legendary broadcaster Don Sutton into Hall of Fame July 20
Phil W. Hudson
The Atlanta Braves will induct longtime broadcaster Don Sutton into the Braves Hall of Fame this summer.
The induction luncheon will take place July 20 at the 755 Club at Turner Field, and will be followed by a pregame ceremony that evening when the
Braves take on the Dodgers.
Sutton will join Hank Aaron, Bill Bartholomay, Lew Burdette, Skip Caray, Bobby Cox, Del Crandall, Ralph Garr, Tom Glavine, Tommy Holmes, Ernie
Johnson, Chipper Jones, David Justice, Javy Lopez, Herman Long, Bill Lucas, Greg Maddux, Rabbit Maranville, Eddie Mathews, Dale Murphy, Kid
Nichols, Phil Niekro, Dave Pursley, John Sain, John Smoltz, Paul Snyder, Warren Spahn, Ted Turner and Pete Van Wieren.
Before his broadcast days, Sutton had a stellar playing career that spanned 23 seasons. His Major League career was highlighted by 324 wins with
the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers and California Angels. Sutton began his career in 1966 with the Dodgers, where he
stayed for 16 years and achieved many of his personal bests. Following his time with the Dodgers, he spent intervals of time with the Astros,
Brewers and Angels before retiring in 1988. Sutton ranks seventh on baseball’s all-time strikeout list with 3,574 and appeared in more than 750
games throughout his career.
Sutton’s baseball accomplishments were recognized and celebrated in 1998 when he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
In 1989, Sutton joined Turner Sports as an analyst for Braves telecasts on TBS and spent 18 years covering Atlanta. After a two-year stint with
the Washington Nationals from 2007-2009, Sutton returned to the Braves broadcast team, where he still resides.
“Don has been an integral part of the Braves family for decades, and is most deserving of this honor,” Atlanta Braves President John Schuerholz
said in a statement. “Generations of Braves fans have been wowed by his knowledge and charmed by his ability to bring life to the broadcast. He is
undoubtedly beloved throughout Braves Country.”
The Braves Hall of Fame was established to recognize and honor those
Individual tickets are $150 and can be purchased by calling the Braves Museum & Hall of Fame at 404-614-2310.
Asheville Citizen-Times
Braves defying odds with fast start to 2015 season
Bob Berghaus, bberghau@citizen-times.com
Twelve games into the season and the Atlanta Braves are not following the script.
Usually when teams get rid of their best offensive players and one of the games top closers, disaster follows.
There is plenty of time for that to happen but so far so good for a team that entered Monday night's game against the New York Mets with an 8-4
record, including 5-1 on the road.
Rightfielder Nick Markakis, who spent the first nine years of his career with Baltimore, is hitting .375 with five runs batted in and eight runs scored.
First baseman Freddie Freeman, one of the few holdovers from last year, has four homers, eight runs batted in and is batting .283.
Outfielder Jonny Gomes has a couple dingers and seven RBIs.
Not bad for a team that traded away top offensive players Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Evan Gattis during an eventful offseason that left
Braves fans thinking that a 90- to 95-loss season was all but a certainty.
Centerfielder and Roberson grad Cameron Maybin continues to struggle on offense with a .138 average (4 for 29). He hasn't committed an error on
defense where the Braves have shined, with just one miscue in 12 games.
Starting pitchers Shelby Miller and Julio Teheran are 2-0 in three starts.
Right before the start of the season the Braves traded Craig Kimbrel, who had 42 or more saves in his previous four seasons, to San Diego in the
deal that brought Maybin closer to Asheville. So far, Jason Grilli is doing his best Kimbrel imitation with a major-league best six saves in six
opportunities, allowing just one run in six innings for a 1.50 earned run average.
Rookies Brandon Cunniff and Cody Martin, who has 13 strikeouts in nine innings, have been superb in set-up roles.
It is early but this team is showing Braves fans there may be reason to have some hope.
Rams on the farm: Maybin is not the only former Roberson standout in the Atlanta organization.
Braxton Davidson, selected in the first round (32nd overall) of the 2014 draft, went 1 for 3 with a home run against Asheville in his first game with
the Rome Braves.
Since then he has just one hit and is batting .100. He has drawn eight walks so his on-base percentage of .357 in respectable.
2007 Roberson grad Justin Jackson is in the bullpen with the Class AA Mississippi Braves and has struck out seven batters in three appearances and
3.2 innings. His last outing was rough - two hits, three walks and two earned runs. But the two outs he got came on strikeouts.
Overall he has a 7.36 earned run average.
Jackson, the 45th player selected overall by Toronto in 2007, struggled as a position player and made a change to the mound in 2013.
Associated Press
Braves-Mets Preview
By KEVIN CHROUST (STATS Writer)
The New York Mets have matched the top 13-game start in franchise history, but it has come at a cost that's likely to catch up with them.
With a growing list of injuries, they will try to win 11 of their first 14 games for the first time since their famed 1986 season Tuesday night against
the visiting Atlanta Braves and their thinning bullpen.
The surprising Mets (10-3) own the NL's best record, having won eight in a row since dropping their first two games in Atlanta in the second series
of the season. They last won 10 of 13 to begin a season in 2006 and went on to a division title, as they did in 1986 before winning the World Series.
That team started 13-3.
The winning streak is tied with two 2010 stretches for the club's longest since a 10-game run in July 2008, and the Mets have won their first seven
home games for the first time in franchise history. But after Sunday's 7-6 home win over Miami, there wasn't any celebration.
New York lost catcher Travis d'Arnaud to a broken hand and reliever Jerry Blevins to a fractured arm. D'Arnaud was hitting .317 with an .892 OPS,
and Blevins hadn't allowed a baserunner in five innings.
Catching prospect Kevin Plawecki and right-hander Hansel Robles will be called up from Triple-A Las Vegas.
"As we have done all year, we have to pick up the pieces and move forward," said manager Terry Collins, who is already without third
baseman David Wright (hamstring), reliever Vic Black (shoulder) and closer Jenrry Mejia (suspension). Starting pitcher Zack Wheeler and reliever
Josh Edgin are out for the season.
The Mets have scored 5.13 runs per game with a .363 on-base percentage on the streak. Newcomer Michael Cuddyer has led the way with a .440
average on a seven-game hitting streak.
The rotation has been good all season, going 9-2 with a 2.84 ERA, and Jonathon Niese (1-0, 1.59 ERA) will look to keep it going. He allowed three
runs - one earned - and seven hits in five innings of a 5-3 loss in Atlanta on April 10, then beat Philadelphia in Wednesday's 6-1 win after
surrendering a run and nine hits in 6 1-3 innings.
While the record and ERA might look good, his .364 opponent OBP does not. Still, he hasn't allowed more than two earned runs in his last six starts.
"He knows how to get outs when he needs them," Collins said.
Against Atlanta's current lineup, Jonny Gomes has caused the most trouble with a 6-for-10 mark with a home run.
Gomes drove in four runs in Sunday's 5-2 win in Toronto to lead the Braves (8-4) to a series win, while Nick Markakis continued his strong start with
his new team, going 2 for 4 and upping his average to .375. They scored 18 runs in the three-game series and might need that kind of production to
continue.
Trevor Cahill will be out to recover from a disastrous Atlanta debut. The right-hander made it through just 2 1-3 innings of last Tuesday's 8-2 home
loss to Miami after allowing four runs and five hits with three walks.
Cahill, trying to prove himself after struggling greatly in Arizona a season ago, hadn't pitched since March 31.
"When a sinkerballer is giving up fly balls, maybe there's too much rest," manager Fredi Gonzalez told MLB's official website. "But it's just the first
start of many."
At Citi Field, he's 0-1 with a 4.00 ERA in two appearances. Cuddyer is 4 for 22 against him, while Curtis Granderson is 1 for 13.
Should he again need significant help from the bullpen, Andrew McKirahan won't be around to help. The left-hander has been suspended for 80
games following a positive test for the banned substance Ipamorelin.
He's the second Atlanta reliever to be suspended this month after Arodys Vizcaino tested positive for Stanozolol. Shae Simmons is already out for
the season after undergoing elbow surgery in February.
"You'd like to think you have an endless supply of pitching, but at some point, all of this cuts into your depth," Braves president of baseball
operations John Hart said.
Braves' McKirahan suspended 80 games for positive drug test
NEW YORK (AP) -- Atlanta Braves reliever Andrew McKirahan was suspended for 80 games Monday following a positive test for a banned substance
under Major League Baseball's drug program.
McKirahan is the fifth big league pitcher in 25 days disciplined for using performance-enhancing drugs. He was cited for Ipamorelin, which releases
growth hormone.
''I am extremely sorry for letting down the Atlanta Braves organization, my coaches, teammates and the Braves fans,'' he said in a statement
released by the players' association. ''This is in no way a reflection of my character or morals. I will work hard during my suspension and pray that
everyone will find it in their hearts to forgive me.''
The 25-year-old left-hander has a 4.15 ERA in three appearances this season. He was selected by theChicago Cubs on the 21st round of the 2011
amateur draft, taken by Miami in the winter meeting draft of unprotected players, then claimed by Atlanta off waivers on April 1.
McKirahan will be eligible to return to the Braves in late July. He loses $221,858 of his $507,500 salary, the major league minimum.
Minnesota's Ervin Santana, the New York Mets' Jenrry Mejia, Seattle's David Rollins and Atlanta's Arodys Vizcaino were suspended for positive tests
for Stanozolol, which is sold under the name Winstrol and is popular with body builders.