The Braves are getting ready for a tough stretch on their schedule. Beginning Tuesday, they play 15 games against playoff contenders Seattle (2 on the road), Washington (3 at home), Los Angeles (4 at home), Oakland (3 at home) and Pittsburgh (3 on the road). The Nationals, Dodgers and A’s entered the weekend leading their divisions. The Pirates are in the hunt for a division title, and the Mariners could be a wild-card contender.
B.J. Upton, CF
AB; R; H; HR; BI; SB; AVG
Last week; 21; 4; 4; 0; 0; 0; .191
Season; 396; 54; 85; 7; 27; 18; .215
Since a 3-for-5 game July 8, he has hit the skids. In the first seven games of July, through the three-hit night, he was 10-for-31 (.323). In the next 16 games through July 30, he was 13-for-63 (.206).
Tommy La Stella, 2B
AB; R; H; HR; BI; SB; AVG
Last week; 19; 3; 8; 0; 1; 0; .421
Season; 200; 16; 59; 0; 24; 2; .295
He had two three-hit games last week, one against the Padres and one against the Dodgers, to give him three since he made his major league debut May 28.
Freddie Freeman, 1B
AB; R; H; HR; BI; SB; AVG
Last week; 23; 4; 7; 1; 3; 0; .304
Season; 415; 70; 117; 15; 59; 0; .282
July brought about a power outage for the All-Star. His home run Wednesday back home in Los Angeles was his second of the month. He entered July with 13. He leads the team in doubles, though, with 28.
Justin Upton, LF
AB; R; H; HR; BI; SB; AVG
Last week; 21; 2; 6; 1; 5; 0; .286
Season; 376; 54; 108; 19; 62; 7; .287
Through the two-thirds mark of the season Wednesday, he was on pace to reach 27 home runs for the second consecutive season. He has one season with more than that total — 2011, when he hit 31 for Arizona.
Jason Heyward, RF
AB; R; H; HR; BI; SB; AVG
Last week; 5; 2; 2; 0; 0; 0; .400
Season; 396; 53; 103; 9; 42; 12; .260
He suffered from a sore back last week, leaving Monday’s game against the Padres after the third inning and missing the series against the Dodgers. He strained the back the Thursday before.
Evan Gattis, C
AB; R; H; HR; BI; SB; AVG
Last week; 17; 2; 6; 1; 3; 0; .353
Season; 251; 31; 72; 17; 42; 0; .287
He was 1-for-13 in his first four games back from the disabled list. Maybe the rebound started with back-to-back multihit games last week against San Diego.
Chris Johnson, 3B
AB; R; H; HR; BI; SB; AVG
Last week; 24; 3; 6; 0; 4; 0; .250
Season; 407; 33; 112; 8; 46; 3; .275
Through July 30, he was hitting .433 against left-handers and .244 against righties. Unfortunately for him, he had 273 more at-bats against righties than against lefties.
Andrelton Simmons, SS
AB; R; H; HR; BI; SB; AVG
Last week; 21; 2; 5; 0; 3; 0; .238
Season; 383; 36; 98; 5; 36; 3; .256
After 17 home runs last season, his power numbers are back in line with what they were previously as a professional. He hit three of his homers in April.
Gerald Laird, C
AB; R; H; HR; BI; SB; AVG
Last week; 4; 1; 1; 0; 0; 0; .250
Season; 111; 10; 27; 0; 9; 0; .243
Hasn’t played much with Gattis, and Christian Bethancourt, in the lineup, but when on the field, he hits. He played in only seven games from June 29-July 30, but had at least one hit in all of them.
