Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Box Score, Turf Battles
TomahawkTake.com
Minor League Updates
ROME BRAVES (A)
Rained out yesterday, the Braves are off to a slow 2-4 start. They begin a series at Augusta today, weather permitting.
The top-rated prospects on this club – Ozhaino Albies and Braxton Davidson – are both getting slow starts (.190, .143), but it’s still early since we’re still talking 21 and 14 ABs. Ozzy has stolen 3 bags, though been caught twice as well. Davidson leads the club in walks with 6.
Pitcher Max Povse is on fire: 0.90 ERA in 10 innings with 6 hits allowed, 3 walks and 9 Ks (one of those hits a homer for the only run he’s allowed). Zach Quintana, Alec Grosser, and Carlos Salazar are all pitching well early on (none with over 5 innings as yet), though several early walks have been yielded for Grosser and Quintana.
CAROLINA MUDCATS (HIGH-A)
The Mudcats ripped off 4 straight wins as part of a 4-2 start with a rainout included. Pitching has been excellent, as no more than 4 runs have been given up in any game so far.
Yean Carlos Gill, Lucas Sims, Steve Janas, and Mauricio Cabrera have all started well – only Sims walking anybody of this group (and he just 2 batters in six innings; 2 hits besides).
On the hitting side, 1B Jacob Schrader is on fire: .455 with 4 doubles in 3 games! There’s not a lot of hitting in that lineup, but there’s clearly some timely hitting, seeing as 4 members of the team have 3 RBI apiece… and most of them are hitting below .220.
MISSISSIPPI BRAVES (AA)
The M-Braves are 2-3, and are hoping to finish a suspended game at Jackson today before playing their regularly scheduled affair tonight.
RF David Rohm, C Chris O’Dowd, and SS Daniel Castro are all hitting above .380 so far; Rio Ruiz has cooled to .222, and Mallex Smith – while walking 3 times – is hitting roughly his weight at .188.
While the pitching has been solid through most of the organization, the Mississippi arms are having trouble getting on track. Even Tyrell Jenkins, listed with a 0.00 ERA thanks to errors, actually got shelled during his first outing. We’ll give them some slack, though: it’s still early.
GWINNETT BRAVES (AAA)
The 3-4 Braves host Charlotte tonight as part of a 5-game series that runs through Sunday.
Jose Peraza continues to struggle a bit out of the gate: .214 with 2 walks and 1 steal. Eury Perez has likewise returned to earth (.200), and Todd Cunningham may still be overcoming the disappointment of not making the major league roster (.160).
Perdro Ciriaco is just hitting: .296 so far.
The pitching has been pretty good: Manny Banuelos: 8.2 innings with a 2.08 ERA, but those pesky walks continue to plague him (6). Almost exactly the same for Michael Foltynewicz (2.08, 8.2, 6 walks, and 12 K’s vs. 10 for Manny). John COrnely, Chien-Ming Wang, David Carpenter II, Matt Wisler, Donnie Veal, and Williams Perez are all pitching well.
Meanwhile: Brady Feigl is hurt:
"LHP Brady Feigl, who came out of nowhere to almost win a bullpen spot in spring training, had to leave his first game with Triple-A Gwinnett after feeling discomfort in his elbow while throwing a pitch on Friday. The Braves said Feigl will be re-evaluated after a few days of rest. Feigl, who pitched in Class A last year, gave up just one run and recorded seven strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings this spring."
Let’s hope it isn’t what we all fear.