WEDNESDAY’S GAME
Where: Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati
When: 7:10 p.m.
TV/Radio: SPSO/680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers: Braves LH Eric Stults (1-3, 4.84) vs. RH Raisel Iglesias (0-0, 5.40)
What's new: Since May 2, Cameron Maybin has gone 9-for-30 with the homer (his fifth of the year,) two doubles and seven RBIs. Nick Markakis carried a seven-game hitting streak into Tuesday's game in Cincinnati, while batting .323 (10-for-31). The Braves will see Iglesias, a 25-year-old Cuban defector, for the first time. The right-hander will be recalled from Triple-A Louisville to make his second major league appearance. He got no decision in his debut, a 7-5 11-inning loss vs. St. Louis on April 12. In Louisville, Iglesias was 1-2 (3.80 ERA) with 21 hits allowed and seven walks in 21 1/3 innings.
-Carroll Rogers
ON THE BEAT
Call that a bargain
When Shelby Miller (4-1) was acquired from St. Louis in November along with Tyrell Jenkins for Jason Heyward and Jordan Walden, the financials were secondary to the story, given the hue and cry about Heyward’s departure. But as ESPN Stats & Information points out: Miller is making $535,000 this season and won’t be eligible for free agency until 2019. Heyward and Walden combined are making more than $11 million this season.
Heyward entered Tuesday batting .259 with eight RBIs. (Braves rookie Jace Peterson, by the way, has nine.) Walden made 10 appearances before landing on the DL with a shoulder strain that will cost his six to 10 weeks.
Miller ranks second among National League starters in ERA (1.60) and opponents batting average (.171) and has thrown one of the league’s two shutouts. He is the only pitcher in the majors with seven starts allowing two earned runs or less.
By the numbers
14
Sacrifice bunts by the Braves entering Wednesday night, tied for the NL lead. They ranked 13th in the league last season.
10
Sacrifice flies by the Braves entering Wednesday, tied for fourth-most in the NL. They ranked last in the league last season.
.259
Braves team batting average entering Wednesday night, sixth in the NL. They hit .241 last year, 11th in the league.
Wild night
When the Braves scored the deciding run on an Aroldis Chapman wild pitch in Monday night’s 2-1 win, they sent Cincinnati’s best reliever to his second loss in two days. Chapman (1-2) also gave up a ninth-inning run during a 4-3 loss to the White Sox on Sunday, the first run he had allowed all season.
Upcoming
Thursday: Off
Friday: at Marlins, 7:10
Saturday: at Marlins, 1:10
Sunday: at Marlins, 1:10
Monday: Off
Tuesday: vs. Rays, 7:10
May 20: vs. Rays, 7:10
About the Author
