The Sports Xchange
MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – INSIDE PITCH
The Braves don’t want to rush pitching prospect Alex Wood. But they may not have a choice unless general manager Frank Wren can find a capable left-handed reliever.
With the losses of Eric O’Flaherty and Jonny Venters to Tommy John surgery, Luis Avilan is the only lefty in the bullpen.
The Braves, 8-3 winners over Minnesota in interleague play Wednesday, did sign Joe Beimel to a minor league contract, but the veteran is coming off Tommy John surgery performed last May and isn’t ready to return at the moment.
Wood, the Braves’ second-round draft choice last June, has been nearly unhittable at Double-A Mississippi and could be the best solution to fill the bullpen void.
The 22-year-old former University of Georgia standout leads the Southern League with a 1.26 ERA in nine starts and has 50 strikeouts to 13 walks in 50 innings. Opponents are batting just 1.98 and he’s set team records of 18 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings and 33 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run.
There was already debate about whether Wood, who has a funky and deceptive delivery, was best suited for a starting or relief role and this might be the right time to make the switch.
Wood appeared in five Grapefruit League games for the Braves this spring and was 2-for-2 in save opportunities. Yes, it was just spring training. But he posted a 1.29 ERA in seven innings.
The Charlotte native has a mid-90s fastball, a decent changeup and a knuckle curve that he learned from Venters and Braves’ closer Craig Kimbrel this spring.
No one questions that Wood has the stuff to be able to help the Braves. But is the time right to give him a chance?
The need appears to be there.
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MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – NOTES, QUOTES
RECORD: 28-18
STREAK: Won six
PAST 10 GAMES: 7-3
NEXT: Braves (Kris Medlen, 1-5, 3.02) at Mets (Jeremy Hefner, 0-5, 5.00)
PLAYER NOTES:
–C Evan Gattis hit his third homer in five plate appearances, blasting a fourth-inning grand slam against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. He hit a two-run pinch homer to give the Braves a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday and sent Tuesday night’s eventual victory to extra innings with a pinch two-out homer in the ninth. His start behind the plate was his first since May 5 — the day before C Brian McCann returned from the disabled list. He had started six games since in left field.
–RHP Kris Medlen will try to continue his success against the Mets when the Braves open a three-game series at New York on Friday. He is 3-0 as a starter against the Mets and has a 1.58 career ERA against them in 15 total appearances. Medlen has gone seven starts without a victory. But he allowed just two hits and an unearned run over seven innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Saturday in a no-decision.
–CF B.J. Upton hit his first homer since April 6 on Wednesday and after a two-hit game the night before. He was 5-for-17 on the homestand, but was still hitting just .155. “They’re working on his left kick, to get his foot down quicker,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “It’ll take a little patience.”
–LF Justin Upton got the day off Wednesday, missing his first game of the season. He also didn’t start on May 8 at Cincinnati, but got into that game as a pinch hitter. Upton was just 4-for-21 on the homestand. He has two homers in May after hitting a Braves-record 12 in April.
–RHP Brandon Beachy, coming back from Tommy John surgery, will make his first minor league rehab start Friday, pitching four innings for Triple-A Gwinnett against Toledo. He was scheduled to start for Gwinnett last Sunday, but the game was rained out. Beachy had surgery last June and hopes to return to the Braves during the second half of June — about a year after the operation.
–RHP Luis Ayala, on the disabled list with anxiety disorder, was sent to Florida on Monday for strength and conditioning work after making five minor league rehab appearances with Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi. He was placed on the disabled list April 30 after suffering anxiety during a series in Colorado while dealing with high blood pressure.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “He’s a legend. Good for him. The players love him.” — Manager Fredi Gonzalez on rookie C Evan Gattis, who hit his third homer in five plate appearances Wednesday.
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MLB Team Report – Atlanta Braves – ROSTER REPORT
MEDICAL WATCH:
–RHP Jordan Walden (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 12. He completed two long toss sessions without feeling any pain May 21.
–LHP Eric O’Flaherty (torn ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list May 19. He saw Dr. James Andrews on May 20. He had his ulnar collateral ligament reconstructed by Dr. James Andrews on May 21 and will be sidelined for approximately 12 months.
–RHP Luis Ayala (anxiety) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 25 after suffering anxiety while dealing with high blood pressure. He was sent to Florida on Monday for strength and conditioning work after making five minor league rehab appearances with Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi.
–LHP Jonny Venters (torn ulnar collateral ligament) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He had season-ending Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery May 16.
–RHP Brandon Beachy (Tommy John surgery in June 2012) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 22. He pitched for the first time in an extended spring training May 14, and he started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Gwinnett May 19.
–INF Blake DeWitt (lower back strain) went on the 15-day disabled list April 20. He missed most of the second half of last season with back issues.
–RHP Cristhian Martinez (right shoulder inflammation) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 7.
ROTATION:
RHP Tim Hudson
LHP Paul Maholm
RHP Kris Medlen
LHP Mike Minor
RHP Julio Teheran
BULLPEN:
RHP Craig Kimbrel (closer)
LHP Luis Avilan
RHP Cory Gearrin
RHP David Carpenter
RHP Anthony Varvaro
RHP Cory Rasmus
CATCHERS:
Brian McCann
Gerald Laird
INFIELDERS:
1B Freddie Freeman
2B Dan Uggla
SS Andrelton Simmons
3B Chris Johnson
INF Juan Francisco
INF Ramiro Pena
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Evan Gattis
CF B.J. Upton
RF Justin Upton
OF Jordan Schafer
OF Reed Johnson
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