Braves Head to Phoenix to Play the Diamondbacks

After splitting a four game series with the San Francisco Giants, the Atlanta Braves travel to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks for a three-game set. Atlanta (25-25) looks to finish up their three series road trip on a positive note when they face the 23-26 Snakes at Chase Field.

The Diamondbacks have one of the best offenses in the National League. Arizona scores more runs per game than any NL ball club (4.73) and only the Giants have collected more hits in the Senior Circuit than the D-Backs (ARZ 458, SF 484). Chip Hale’s ball club is in the top half of almost all team offensive categories. Arizona is also a tremendous defensive team. Only Miami has committed fewer errors than the Snakes this season. Arizona is slightly better in the field than the Braves (ARZ 20 E, ATL 23 E). Our pitching staff has to stop throwing balls into the stands, it’s becoming an issue.

Where Arizona struggles is on the mound. Both their rotation and bullpen are below average (-0.3 WAA for both) and their combined staff is just slightly better than the Braves (ARZ -0.7 WAA, ATL -0.8 WAA). Now imagine how much better the Braves would be if their bullpen wasn’t costing the team 1.5 wins. But at least Atlanta doesn’t blow saves like the Diamondbacks do. Arizona has blown 10 already and converts only 44% of save situations. Yikes! So let’s look forward to interesting nights from the ‘pen from both teams these next three days.

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Tonight’s starters are Alex Wood (3-2, 3.50 ERA) and Archie Bradley (2-2, 5.28 ERA). Wood has won both of his last two starts, going seven innings and allowing just one earned run in each contest. He’s pitched fairly consistently this season as his ERA has been in the mid-3’s for most of it. Bradley is in his rookie season after being the Diamondbacks’ top prospect for some time. His last three starts have been pretty bad (a combined 14 ERs in 10.2 IP). When Bradley finally got to the big leagues, I didn’t think he would have a 12.35 ERA over any 3-game stretch. But still, this will be the first time Atlanta will see this highly touted right hander in the Majors. I’m looking forward to see what this kid’s all about.

Shelby Miller (5-2, 1.48 ERA) and Josh Collmenter (3-5, 5.05 ERA) are Tuesday night’s starters. Miller received no run support in his loss to the Giants Thursday night. Collmenter has gone five innings, allowing two earned runs in each of his last two starts. I like Miller to win this game and really any start he makes with the Braves. Has there been a better pitcher in the National League in 2015?

In the series finale Wednesday afternoon, Mike Foltynewicz (3-2, 3.96 ERA) squares off with Rubby De La Rosa (4-2, 4.50 ERA). Folty has cut down on the walks in his last three starts while keeping his strikeout totals up (22 K’s to 3 BB’s). De La Rosa has not earned a decision in any of his last three starts, despite going the distance against Miami on the 18th. Of the three Diamondbacks starters the Braves will face this week, Rubby looks to have pitched the best recently, 3.91 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in his last seven starts.

After splitting with the Giants in San Francisco and avoiding a sweep in Los Angeles, the Braves need to win this series with the Snakes before heading home to play the Pirates this weekend. Hopefully yesterday’s crazy ninth inning comeback brings positive vibes into the desert for this three game set. The rotation has pitched wonderfully for the Braves this road trip with the lone exception being Teheran’s start in LA. Should the rotation continue to pitch well and the bullpen doesn’t have to pitch in high stress innings, Atlanta could definitely take two of three from Arizona before coming home. That would give Atlanta a .500 record on this tough road trip. Let’s make it happen, boys! Go Braves!

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