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Atlanta Braves Morning Chop: Thursday updates from all over

By Alan Carpenter |
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 26: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets is congratulated by teammate David Wright #5 as deGrom walked into the dugout after the final out of the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves on September 26,2018 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.The New York Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves 3-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 26: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets is congratulated by teammate David Wright #5 as deGrom walked into the dugout after the final out of the eighth inning against the Atlanta Braves on September 26,2018 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City.The New York Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves 3-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Mets actually won a game over Atlanta that Jacob deGrom started.  Maybe it’s because they let him stick around longer?

The Atlanta Braves lost 3-0 last night in a game where neither starting pitcher gave up a run.  The good news for our side is that Sean Newcomb actually went pitch-for-pitch with Jacob deGrom, giving up fewer hits (1 vs. 2) while striking out more (8) over the five innings he was around.

Against Atlanta this season, deGrom has pitched…

  • (@ATL) 7 innings, 0R, 4H, 2BB, 10K
  • (@NY): 4 innings, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 6K (hurt)
  • (@ATL) 7 innings, 1R, 5H, 3BB, 8K
  • (@ATL) 7 innings, 1R, 7H, 0BB, 7K
  • (@NY): 8 innings, 2R, 6H, 1BB, 9K
  • (@NY): 8 innings, 0R, 2H, 0BB, 10K

Not only did he save the best for last, his team finally won – the previous 5 outings had ended in Braves’ victories despite this composite line for the year:

  • 41 innings, 4 runs, 26 hits, 6BB, 50K

The Braves’ ability to grind out those 5 wins may turn out to be a vital part of their season’s success story.

Ultimately, it was Newcomb’s tendency to have a brief ‘lapse’ of control that got him removed – yielding 4 walks that ballooned his pitch count to 88.

Meanwhile, deGrom walked none through 8 innings, finishing his year with a 110 pitch outing, a 10-9 record, 1.70 ERA… and most probably a Cy Young award for his mantle.

Anything less from the award’s voters would be stupid.

Have you noticed?

It was a couple of years ago that a former top prospect of the Braves – Jose Peraza – was dealt to the Dodgers as part of a still-bizarre trade that also sent away Alex Wood, Luis Avilan, Jim Johnson, and Bronson Arroyo‘s contract so that John Coppolella could get Hector Olivera.

You already know how most of that deal was bad for the Braves, but there’s an update worth mentioning (it’ll make that deal even a bit worse).

The Cincinnati Reds had been hot after Peraza for some time prior and during the off-season after the Dodgers acquired him, the Reds made their move as part of a 3-team trade; ultimately getting Peraza, Scott Schebler, and Brandon Dixon for Todd Frazier (who went to the White Sox).

Upon reaching AAA with Atlanta, Peraza was known as a second baseman with some leadoff skills, speed and a decent glove, but no power.  However, his walk rate (~3%) wasn’t really enough to sustain an OBP good enough for the majors, so he was used for trade bait with the knowledge that Ozzie Albies was coming quickly.

With the Reds, he’s taken a bit to get going, but this year has been pretty good for him – and mind you, Peraza is still not yet 24-1/2 years old at this point.

He’s hitting .292 with 14 homers (and that’s actually split evenly between Great American Ballpark and elsewhere) with 23 steals and a .330 OBP.

He’s up to a 4.3% walk rate and the new-found slugging (he must hang out with Scooter Gennett) has his OPS up to .752.  Oh, and his strikeout rate is a scant 10.8%.

As a result, Peraza has blossomed into a nearly 3-WAR player (from -0.3 last season).  That’s quite a change from the player we thought he might be… though to be honest, the difference is that power.  The rest is essentially pure Peraza.

Overall, Peraza’s timing of arrival with Atlanta was poor and I was actually okay with using him in a trade… maybe now that trade, but something.  I am glad to see Braves’ players doing well – even in new environs – for that means our scouting staff is doing a good job.

Chaos Update

Milwaukee is making a real run at the NL Central now.  Having swept the Cardinals, they are just a half game behind the Cubs.  Chicago now gets those Cardinals while Milwaukee plays… the Detroit Tigers.

Advantage Milwaukee, who will probably claim the top seeding if this trend continues.

More from Tomahawk Take

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have lost 2 while the Rockies have reeled off 6 straight to take the lead in the West.  The Dodgers’ sudden stumble has had 2 impacts:  keeping the Cardinals in the race (1 game behind LA for the 2nd Wild Card slot) and putting them in danger of being out of the playoffs all together.

Once completing destruction of the Phillies today, Colorado will finish the Nationals, which will likely be a tougher test.  The Dodgers will get the Giants this weekend.

The Braves?  Their 1st round foe is still most likely the West winner, but they are still holding the home-field edge at this moment.  Atlanta would lose tie-breakers to either of those teams, so maintaining the current 1-game lead is important… and they will be in Philadelphia this weekend after finishing with the Mets today.

The most dangerous team in the NL?  It’s Milwaukee, which is hitting on all cylinders right now.  The Rockies would be the next team that I wouldn’t want to face, though.

dark. Next. Braves will have to shuffle to cover Swanson's loss

We could still see multiple ties for division winners could Sunday… that could only help Atlanta’s cause.

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