NEXT FOR BRAVES
Carroll Rogers
Series preview: vs. Cincinnati Reds
When (TV): 7:35 p.m. Friday (FSSO), 7:10 p.m. Saturday (FSSO), 1:35 p.m. Sunday (FSSO)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers:
Friday: Braves RH Ervin Santana (2-0, 0.86 ERA) vs. RH Homer Bailey (1-1, 5.75)
Saturday: Braves RH David Hale (0-0, 2.93) vs. RH Mike Leake (2-1, 3.49)
Sunday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (2-1, 1.80) vs. RH Johnny Cueto (2-2, 1.38)
About the Braves:
Batting: Evan Gattis hit .364 (12-for-33) with two doubles, four home runs and nine RBIs in his past nine games. That includes his first walk-off home run and a go-ahead two-run double for game-winning hits in the two victories during the Marlins series. Freddie Freeman was 0-for-his-12 with six strikeouts during the series, as he battled eye dryness that cropped up last week in New York.
Pitching: Santana has only four walks and 24 strikeouts over his 21 innings as a Brave. He's second in the National League in ERA behind only teammate Aaron Harang (0.85.) He's allowed no runs or one run in each of his first three starts since signing with the Braves in mid-March, and the Braves have won each one. Jack Hannahan (3-for-19) is the only Reds batter with more than seven at-bats against him.
Miscellaneous: Braves catchers have given up 18 stolen bases in 23 attempts this season, which will come into play against speedy Billy Hamilton. The Braves were 4-3 against the Reds last season, while splitting a four-game series at Turner Field on July 11-14.
About the Reds:
Batting: The Reds' dynamic rookie leadoff hitter Hamilton is 11-for-31 (.355), with seven stolen bases over his past eight games, including three multihit games. Jay Bruce has hit .379 (11-for-29) on the Reds' trip, with four doubles, one home run and five RBIs. Since leaving Friday's game against the Cubs with back spasms, Stone Mountain's Brandon Phillips is 4-for-27 with eight strikeouts.
Pitching: Bailey has averaged 11.07 strikeouts per nine innings. He pitched six shutout innings in a win over the Cubs his last time out. Closer Aroldis Chapman will throw his second round of live batting practice this weekend as he recovers from taking a line drive off his head March 19. Jonathan Broxton has four saves in five scoreless innings in his absence.
Miscellaneous: The Reds started the season 3-8, but were 8-3 since, entering their nightcap Thursday in Pittsburgh. They were in for a long day, playing the remainder of Wednesday's suspended game first, the night game, then flying to Atlanta.
