PHOENIX — The Braves were represented by one-fourth of their pitching staff and their starting catcher in Tuesday’s All-Star game, big reasons many expect the National League East race to stay tight all summer.
Like the first-place Philadelphia Phillies, the second-place Braves are loaded with elite pitching. And to help lead them they have a six-time All-Star catcher, Brian McCann. And that matters.
“It’s huge,” said setup man Jonny Venters, a first-time All-Star along with fellow Braves pitchers Jair Jurrjens and closer Craig Kimbrel. “Mac and [Braves backup catcher] David Ross are so good at executing their game plan and knowing how they want to go after hitters.”
The Phillies (3.02) and Braves (3.11) have the majors’ lowest ERAs. The Philadelphia starters’ 2.93 ERA is the majors’ best, while the Braves have the majors’ second-best bullpen ERA (2.87) and the NL’s third-best starters ERA (3.23).
“They’ve got unbelievable pitching,” Phillies All-Star left-hander Cliff Lee said of the Braves. “Their bullpen’s been as good as any bullpen in baseball. They’ve got three lefties out of the ’pen, and the way Kimbrel’s been pitching ...
“Their starting pitching’s been great. They’ve got a good team. I think with Chipper Jones getting hurt, that might impact them a little bit. But it don’t seem like he should be out long, from what they’re saying.”
Jones is expected to miss three weeks after arthroscopic knee surgery Saturday for torn meniscus he had tried to play through for much of the first half. The veteran third baseman was selected to the All-Star team, but pulled out after his condition worsened.
Martin Prado could be activated Friday after missing more than a month recovering from a staph infection in his right calf. He’ll move from left field to third base until Jones returns.
McCann is among those who believe Prado, an All-Star second baseman in 2010, is the biggest key to the Braves’ second half.
“You can’t replace what he brings,” McCann said of Prado. “Energy. He never gives away at-bats. He gets on base. We lose Chipper, but we get Prado back, and we hope to not miss a beat.”
The Braves and Phillies split 12 games and four series in the first half, and the Phillies’ 14-1 rout in the last game before the break was a glaring exception.
“It’s a battle every time we play them,” Venters said. “I know that last game was lopsided a little bit, but the first two [in last week’s series] went extra innings. We match up well. Pitching is the strength of both teams. It’s a battle, and it’s fun to play them.
“We just need to keep doing what we’re doing — pitching well, putting up zeroes, and getting timely hits. I think it’s going to be a battle to the end between us and those guys. They have a really good team, a really good staff. I think our staff is right up there with theirs.”
The Braves believe their catching duo gives them an edge over other teams. McCann was a proficient hitter the day he arrived in the major leagues, while game-calling and defense are aspects he has had to work to steadily improve.
“Mac studies and studies and studies,” Venters said. “We all have the confidence that whatever he’s putting down is the right pitch. We’re really lucky to have him back there. He’s always talking to Roger, watching video, talking to David Ross, trying to figure out what’s the best way to go at a hitter.”
Astros All-Star outfielder Hunter Pence said McCann brings a lot to the Braves.
“Hitting and defensively, he does it all,” he said. “A remarkable person off the field, as well. That’s one of the athletes I highly respect. The catching position is one of the toughest, and to be able to do what he does is just remarkable.”
