Teheran sharp as Braves beat Cardinals

After getting high-quality starts from rookie pitchers in each of the first three games of a season-ending homestand, the Braves got an even better one Friday from their once-and-again ace, Julio Teheran, who qualifies as a veteran on this youthful staff.

Daniel Castro drove in two runs with a homer and a double, and Teheran pitched six crisp innings against a backup-filled St. Louis Cardinals lineup in a 4-0 series-opening win Friday at Turner Field. It was Braves’ sixth win in seven home games since losing 14 of 15.

ExploreClick here to read David O'Brien's complete recap on MyAJC.com

Heyward back in Atlanta

ExploreTen and a half months after the Braves traded Jason Heyward to the St. Louis Cardinals, he returned for his first game at Turner Field as a visiting player. He felt a lot more like a visitor than he probably ever imagined he would in his so-called homecoming. (Click here to read more)

Left-hander to miss next season

ExploreInitially the Braves hoped to have left-hander Paco Rodriguez in their bullpen during this final month of the season, now they won’t have him until 2017. Rodriguez had Tommy John elbow surgery at some point in late September and will miss the entire 2016 season. (Click here to read more)

Mark Bradley on Coppolella promotion

ExploreOne of the principal architects — unless I miss my guess, the chief architect — of the worst Braves season in a quarter-century was promoted Thursday. Assistant general manager John Coppolella shed the first word of his title and was handed a contract that runs through 2019. Maybe you think that’s a case of failure being rewarded. Here’s where I say you’re wrong. (Click here to read more)

Whatever happened to ... Javy Lopez

ExploreWhen Javier “Javy” Lopez was growing up in Puerto Rico, he would practice baseball by hitting rocks off the metal roof of his house in Ponce. The loud noise, which used to drive his parents crazy, would eventually lead to Lopez putting his name in the major league record books for most home runs in a season by a catcher, when he hit 43 in his final season with the Braves in 2003. (Click here to read more)

The 2015 season

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