The ups
After losing two of three in San Francisco, the Braves still entered the weekend with five wins in their previous eight games.
Even after Julio Teheran was slammed by the Giants on Wednesday (four earned runs allowed in just 3 1/3 innings), Braves starters still led the majors in ERA (2.64). Their 30 quality starts were tied with the Brewers for most in the NL.
With a successful challenge of a botched double-play call Wednesday night in San Francisco — the Braves got a run on the reversal — manager Fredi Gonzalez was a perfect 5-for-5 when asking for a video review of a play. That means two things: the team has a pretty good notion on when to appeal and when not to; and that makes for one blown call every 7.6 games.
The downs
The Braves went into the weekend with the Cardinals having lost four of their last five series.
Since 2B Dan Uggla was benched May 7, his replacements — Tyler Pastornicky and Ramiro Pena — entered the weekend hitting .136 (2-for-22) with one RBI in his place. That RBI came on a Pastornicky squeeze bunt.
Maybe they’re just not going to score this year. The Braves scored two runs or less in 17 of their first 39 games (44 percent), including nine of their last 16. They are 6-11 in those games.
Hot
3B Chris Johnson went into the Cardinals series hitting .367 (18-for-49) in May. He improved his average by 48 points (.231 to .279).
Guess the eyes really are OK. 1B Freddie Freeman is hitting .325 in night games, fourth-highest in the NL. In nine games entering the weekend, he had four doubles, a home run and six RBIs.
Not
RF Jason Heyward came out of the Giants series with just four hits in his previous 31 at-bats (.129).
How about those bats off the bench? Jordan Schafer ended the week on and 0-for-12 skid, and Ramiro Pen was 0-for-11.
Questions
1) Julio Teheran had trouble getting a grip on the ball In San Francisco? Doesn’t AT&T Park sit on the water?
2) Gonzalez announced the team was going to try a six-man rotation, only to discard the idea the next day? Huh?
3) Are the Braves disappointed they won’t get to face the Giants again in the regular season?
Answers
1) It could happen. It was a record 89 degrees in SF on Wednesday with just 22 percent humidity. Coors Field conditions.
2) Someone handed him a calendar. Thursday’s off day meant Gavin Floyd next scheduled start would come on six days’ rest instead of the normal four. No way to treat a Tommy John survivor.
3) Disappointed? They should be doing back-flips. In six games with the Giants this months, the Braves lost five, were outscored 23-14, out-hit 51-36 and out-homered 11-2.
Thoughts
With 24 errors going into the weekend, the Braves rank No. 7 in the NL, an average defense. But remove Dan Uggla’s seven errors, the most by any second baseman in the majors, and the Braves’ total would drop to 17, second-fewest errors among 30 MLB clubs.
