Series preview: at Brewers
When (TV): 2:10 p.m. Monday (SPSO), 8:10 p.m. Tuesday (SPSO), 1:10 p.m. Wednesday (SPSO)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers:
Monday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (14-8, 3.20 ERA in 2013) vs. RH Yovani Gallardo (12-10, 4.18 ERA in 2013)
Tuesday: Braves LH Alex Wood (3-3, 3.13) vs. RH Kyle Lohse (11-10, 3.35)
Wednesday: Braves RH Aaron Harang (5-12, 5.40) vs. RH Matt Garza (10-6, 3.82)
About the Braves:
Batting: If spring training is any indication, Freddie Freeman and Jason Heyward are poised to carry the Braves offense heading into the season. Freeman hit .368 with four doubles, two homers and nine RBIs in the spring, while Heyward hit .323 with two doubles, four homers and five RBIs. Both Dan Uggla and B.J. Upton hit in the .260s which the Braves hope is a sign they've put miserable 2013 seasons behind them.
Pitching: The 23-year-old Teheran makes his first career opening day start in place of Kris Medlen, who underwent Tommy John surgery two weeks ago. Teheran had a dominant spring, going 0-1 with a 1.80 ERA in six starts, with only four walks and 26 strikeouts and a 0.96 WHIP. He's pitched in Miller Park once before, limiting the Brewers to two runs in 6 1/3 innings but took the hard-luck loss 2-0 to Wily Peralta last June 21.
Miscellaneous: The last time these teams faced each other Sept. 25, Carlos Gomez and former Braves catcher Brian McCann had a nose-to-nose confrontation halfway up the third base line after Gomez taunted Paul Maholm circling the bases on a home run. The Braves are 2-8 at Miller Park over the past three seasons, including eight losses in a row before Maholm's win there June 23. This is their second ever meeting on opening day. The Braves won the first 2-1 in 1998 at Turner Field.
About the Brewers:
Batting: Ryan Braun is back for a full season after missing most of last year between a thumb injury and a 65-game suspension for PED use. He appears to be back on his game, hitting .417 (15-for-36) with three home runs and nine RBIs in 16 spring training games. He moved from left field to right this spring to open up a spot for Khris Davis. Fourth outfielder Logan Schafer hit .379 in spring, while leading the Brewers in hits (22) and had a .471 on-base percentage.
Pitching: Gallardo is motivated to bounce back from a subpar 2013, which included nagging injuries and coping with the death of his mother. He refined his curveball this spring and went 0-2 with a 3.98 ERA in six starts. He's 4-1 with a 2.01 ERA in seven career starts against the Braves, including 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA in four home starts. Right-hander Tyler Thornburg, a 2010 third-round pick out of Riverwood High in Sandy Springs, made the Brewers opening day roster for the first time.
Miscellaneous: A workout on Saturday answered any questions that All-Star shortstop Jean Segura had about whether the sore shoulder that kept him out of games for two weeks this spring would allow him to be ready for opening day. It will. The Brewers are 9-6 all time at home on opening day, including 3-2 at Miller Park.
- Carroll Rogers
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