The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – INSIDE PITCH
Chris Johnson was considered a throw-in by most in Atlanta when the Braves made their big trade over the winter to get Justin Upton from Arizona. But Braves fans are very familiar with the right-handed hitter now.
“He’s been outstanding,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “He’s been playing pretty much every day and producing. He gives us great flexibility.”
Johnson began the season platooning with Juan Francisco at third base, but he took over as the regular first baseman when Freddie Freeman went on the disabled list April 7 with a strained right oblique.
Johnson, who had a four-hit game on Sunday as the Braves completed their sweep in Washington, is batting .415 with a homer and six RBIs and is 15-for-34 since Freeman went out. He was 2-for-4 with a double and a RBI against Kansas City on Tuesday.
“It’s been fun to be able to step in,” Johnson said. “I’m just trying to help us win as many games we can until we get some of our big guys back.”
In addition to Freeman, the Braves are also missing catcher Brian McCann. But so far, they haven’t missed a beat thanks to the contributions of Evan Gattis, Johnson and others.
Freeman is eligible to come off the disabled list next Monday and McCann (right shoulder surgery) could return as early as the end of April after being cleared Tuesday to begin catching in extended spring training games. Both could go out on minor league rehabs this weekend.
Freeman, who hit .412 with a homer and seven RBIs, was angry when he was told he had to go on the DL, insisting he didn’t need to be out that long. But the Braves choose to err on the side of caution.
“I’ve had a week to calm down,” said Freeman, who took flip swings and hit off a tee on Tuesday in preparation for being cleared for live batting practice.
“Hopefully, we’ll have him back in 15 days or just a couple days longer,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
THE GAME: 10 in a row
Jason Heyward, Justin Upton and Dan Uggla blasted home runs in the eighth inning Tuesday, and the Braves ran their winning streak to 10 games with a 6-3 interleague victory over the Royals.
The Braves can match their 13-1 start of 1994 with a victory over the Royals on Wednesday in the finale of the two-game series and their 10-game winning streak is the longest since a record 15 games in a row in 2000.
The home runs, all off reliever Kevin Herrera, came within a span of four batters and gave the Braves five home runs for the game. Juan Francisco had homered twice earlier off Kansas City starter Jeremy Guthrie.
Heyward hit his second of the season with one out in the eighth to break a 2-2 tie, and Upton made it consecutive homers with his eighth of the year. Then Uggla connected with two outs for his third homer of the season.
“I’ve never been part of anything like this,” Upton said. “From top to bottom in our lineup, everyone can go deep.”
Although he didn’t get the decision, Braves starter Kris Medlen allowed just six hits and two runs (one unearned) in seven innings. He struck out five, walked none and threw 73 of his 99 pitches for strikes.
———————————————–
MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 12-1
STREAK: Won 10
PAST 10 GAMES: 10-0
NEXT: Royals (Wade Davis, 1-0, 4.00) at Braves (Mike Minor, 2-0, 0.69)
PLAYER NOTES:
–LHP Luis Avilan appeared to tear his left hamstring trying to deliver a pitch in the ninth inning against the Royals on Tuesday. “Obviously, the way he fell down, it doesn’t look good,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “I’m thinking worse-case scenario.” Avilan came in having allowed three hits and no runs in four innings. He was charged with a balk on the attempted pitch and a run scored after he left the game. Avilan was 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in 31 appearances after being promoted from the minors at midseason last year.
–LHP Mike Minor, who starts Wednesday against the Royals at 12:10 p.m. ET in the finale of the two-game interleague series, hopes to continue in the role that began at midseason last year. He has posted a 2.02 ERA over 17 starts since entering last July with a 6.20 ERA. Minor was 4-0 with a 0.87 ERA in five starts last September and has allowed just one run over 13 innings in his two starts this season.
–C Brian McCann, six months out from right shoulder surgery on Tuesday, was cleared to begin catching in extended spring training games in Florida. He had just been serving as a designated hitter. Once McCann shows that he can withstand the rigors of being behind the plate, he will go out on a minor league rehab assignment that can last up to 20 days. “We want to have him catch a couple games down there before we start the clock (on his minor league rehab),” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.
–1B Freddie Freeman, put on the 15-day disabled list with a right oblique strain on April 7, took some flip swings and hit off a tee on Tuesday and said he felt good. If he doesn’t have any issues Wednesday, he may be cleared for live batting practice. Freeman, who was hitting .412 with a homer and seven RBIs after five games, was angry when told he was being put on the DL, but the Braves decided to err on the side of caution. He is eligible to be activated on Monday.
–SS Paul Janish, coming back from left shoulder surgery, began his 20-day minor league rehab assignment on Monday with Class AAA Gwinnett. He was 1-for-4 in his first game and 0-for-4 on Tuesday. After Janish finishes the rehab stint, he’ll likely stay with Gwinnett. He has a minor league option remaining and the Braves don’t have a spot for him at the moment.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “You know the power is there. It’s nice to have that type of arsenal that can turn a game around quick.” — Manager Fredi Gonzalez, after Atlanta hit five homers in a 6-3 win over Kansas City Tuesday.
———————————————–
MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–LHP Luis Avilan (left hamstring injury) left in the ninth inning of the April 16 game. “Obviously, the way he fell down, it doesn’t look good,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “I’m thinking worse-case scenario (torn hamstring).”
–1B Freddie Freeman (sprained oblique) was injured April 6 and placed on the 15-day DL on April 7. In a tweet, Freeman said, “Obviously I am upset, but I will use these 15 days to get fully healthy.” Freeman took some flip swings and hit off a tee on April 16 and said he felt good. If he doesn’t have any issues April 17, he may be cleared for live batting practice. Freeman is eligible to be activated on April 22.
–SS Paul Janish (left shoulder surgery in October 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He began his 20-day minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett Braves on April 15. He didn’t get into any spring game action because he wasn’t allowed to dive. After Janish finishes the rehab stint, he’ll likely stay with Gwinnett. He has a minor league option remaining and the Braves don’t have a spot for him at the moment.
–C Brian McCann (right shoulder surgery in October 2012) had a frayed labrum repaired and a cyst removed. As of April 11, he was serving as a DH in extended spring training games and is playing long toss from a distance of 180 feet. He was cleared to begin catching on April 16 in extended spring training games. Once McCann shows that he can withstand the rigors of being behind the plate, he will go out on a minor league rehab assignment that can last up to 20 days. “We want to have him catch a couple games down there before we start the clock (on his minor league rehab),” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. He is not expected back until late April or early May.
–RHP Cristhian Martinez (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 7.
–LHP Jonny Venters (left elbow sprain) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He will be shut down for four weeks and isn’t expected to pitch again until late May or early June. He had to leave a spring game against the Tigers on March 26, and he received a platelet-rich plasma injection from Dr. James Andrews on April 2 after an MRI was inconclusive.
–RHP Brandon Beachy (Tommy John surgery in June 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He hopes to be ready to return to the rotation by late June. He has had no setbacks, and he likely will begin a minor league rehab in late May.
ROTATION:
RHP Tim Hudson
LHP Paul Maholm
RHP Kris Medlen
LHP Mike Minor
RHP Julio Teheran
BULLPEN:
RHP Craig Kimbrel (closer)
LHP Eric O’Flaherty
RHP Jordan Walden
LHP Luis Avilan
RHP Cory Gearrin
RHP Luis Ayala
RHP Anthony Varvaro
CATCHERS:
Gerald Laird
Paul Gattis
INFIELDERS:
1B Chris Johnson
2B Dan Uggla
SS Andrelton Simmons
3B Juan Francisco
INF Ramiro Pena
INF Blake DeWitt
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Justin Upton
CF B.J. Upton
RF Jason Heyward
OF Reed Johnson
OF Jordan Schafer
———————————————–
