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Blue Jays Series Preview: Atlanta Braves ripe for the picking
Sep 11, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) celebrates his two-run home run against the New York Yankees with Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Ben Revere (7) and Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Jose Bautista (19) during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The Toronto Blue Jays are back in action on Tuesday as they head to Atlanta where they’ll play a three-game interleague set against the Braves. It’s been a struggle for the Braves in 2015, with their 56-88 record putting them long side the Philadelphia Phillies at the bottom of the NL East. This could be spun as a trap series if you tried hard enough, but from the Blue Jays’ standpoint, the Braves are a prime target for taking at least two of three.
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Atlanta has continued to sink as of late, going 2-8 over their last 10 games while the Blue Jays have stayed afloat atop the AL East. Toronto’s definitive series win over the Yankees in New York has set them up perfectly for the final weeks of the season, and if they’re able to gain another game by the weekend, things become much more comfortable.
Mark Buehrle is set to kick off the series for Toronto, and is expected be followed by David Price and Marco Estrada. Price has been chomping at the bit to get a bat in his hands, so Wednesday appears to be his chance. Give the NL rules and expanded rosters, John Gibbons will be a busy man on the bench over the next three days.
Next: First stop: A look at those poor Braves
Sep 1, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) celebrates with teammates after scoring a run against the Miami Marlins in the eighth inning at Turner Field. The Marlins defeated the Braves 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Across the Diamond: The Atlanta Braves
The offenses in this series are as lopsided as possible. Number one versus number thirty. The Braves rank dead last in MLB team scoring with 517 runs, a few behind the 790 that Toronto has accumulated in 2015.
Power has been a real issue for the Braves, with just 88 home runs on the season (last in MLB). Atlanta’s cumulative team average of .251 ranks them 21st in the league while a .314 OBP puts them 17th.
Freddie Freeman is the biggest offensive threat that Atlanta boasts, but his issue in 2015 has been staying on the field. Now healthy, Freeman has continued to hit well with an average of .282 and 16 home runs in 367 at bats. Outfielder Nick Markakis has led the way in hits with 164, good for a .296 average in his first year with the club.
Outside of those bats, the secondary offense on the Braves will be provided by Cameron Maybin, hitting .268 with 10 home runs, and Andrelton Simmons, now hitting .264 with 56 runs scored. You’ll also see some A.J. Pierzynski, Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher, but they’re no longer the players they once were.
Next: Game 1 Preview: Buehrle's biggest start of 2015?
Sep 7, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Mark Buehrle (56) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Game 1: Tuesday, September 15th – 7:10 ET
Mark Buehrle (14-7, 3.72) vs. Julio Teheran (10-7, 4.38)
This figures to be the most important start of Buehrle’s season. With the successful (knock on wood) return of Marcus Stroman, the veteran lefty could soon begin to feel the pinch if Toronto chooses to shrink to a four-man playoff rotation. Regardless, Buehrle can make Toronto’s decision an easy one with some strong outings down the stretch.
Buehrle hasn’t pitched in over a week and is coming off a cortisone shot in his throwing shoulder, so he should return in better shape physically. His most recent outing saw him allow five earned runs on nine hits over 3.1 innings, so there’s nowhere to go but up. Perhaps Buehrle will benefit most from a soft Atlanta lineup.
The Braves will counter with Teheran, the volatile righty who’s recently followed up an eight-run blowup with two strong outings. His last trip to the mound, Teheran allowed just one earned over seven innings, albeit against the Phillies. Control can be spotty with this pitcher, but frankly, there’s nothing out of the ordinary to fear in the opener.
Next: Game 2 Preview: Ace vs. Bad-luck Ace
Sep 6, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher David Price (14) takes batting practice before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays won 10-4. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Game 2: Wednesday, September 16th – 7:10 ET
David Price (15-5, 2.46) vs. Shelby Miller (5-14, 2.86)
The ace is on the mound Wednesday, looking for his 16th win on the season with a very favourable matchup. Price has been everything we could have hoped for since coming to the Jays, and continued his winning ways last time out against the Yankees.
Price wasn’t at his best against New York, but with the offensive outburst behind him, he didn’t need to be. Toronto opted to pull the lefty after just five innings given their lead, with Price allowing two earned runs on six hits. The win moved his Blue Jays record to 6-1.
Across the field, we see the antithesis of Drew Hutchison. Shelby Miller may be experiencing the league’s ultimate hard-luck season in 2015, with an ERA and record that just don’t belong together. The Blue Jays may be catching the talented righty at an opportune time, though, as he’s lost five straight starts. In his last outing against the Mets, Miller allowed three earned runs on seven hits over 6.0 innings.
Next: Game 3 Preview: Estrada in a very favorable matchup
Sep 12, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Marco Estrada (25) delivers a pitch during the first inning of the game against the New York Yankees during the first game of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Game 3: Thursday, September 17th – 7:10 ET
Marco Estrada (12-8, 3.31) vs. Matt Wisler (5-7, 5.60)
The changeup guru closes this one out, and while Estrada has pitched very well since the calendar turned to August, his last outing against the New York Yankees wasn’t his finest.
Estrada lasted just five innings, allowing four earned runs on six hits as he struggled to find the right combination between his fastball and change. Don’t lose sight of the fact that Estrada does not have a long track record of working a high innings limit deep into seasons, so his strength and endurance will be something to monitor.
Atlanta will close out the series with Wisler, a top young arm who came over in the Craig Kimbrel trade from San Diego. Unfortunately, 2015 has not been kind to the right-hander as he’s bounced between the rotation and a relief role, finding success in neither. His most recent outing against the Mets was encouraging, however, and the talent is certainly there. Toronto’s veteran order has enjoyed their time facing young pitchers, though.
Next: Dalton Pompey's case for a spot on the playoff roster