Battery Power - June 16: Braves 15, Phillies 1Your one stop shop for everything Atlanta Braveshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/52890/favicon-32x32..png2019-06-16T20:27:36-04:00http://www.batterypower.com/rss/stream/184458552019-06-16T20:27:36-04:002019-06-16T20:27:36-04:00Talking Chop Podcast Episode 170: Stay hot, Braves
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<img alt="Philadelphia Phillies v Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8taIdGdukfQie6YZGQjGawuV1_k=/285x387:3062x2238/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64014231/1156326286.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="kV0Jn6">Happy Sunday, friends. </p>
<p id="2aGym8">It was an awesome week for the Atlanta Braves and the Talking Chop Podcast is back to discuss everything that transpired. TC’s Eric Cole joins the show for Episode 170 and topics include the following:</p>
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<li id="UZPLF5">Eric’s thoughts on the MLB Draft and Atlanta’s evolving approach</li>
<li id="Z4PdJc">Checking in on early All-Star voting for the Braves and how things might shake out</li>
<li id="mS51GB">Kevin Gausman is on the injured list and AJ Minter is back</li>
<li id="2RWQOT">Eric’s view of the Dallas Keuchel signing and how he looks so far in the minors</li>
<li id="GSXt6Z">Breaking down an awesome week for the Braves, with scalding hot offense and <em>just</em> enough pitching to hang around and rack up victories</li>
<li id="QMgAWh">Much, much more</li>
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<p id="BXbem4">Please check out the podcast via <a href="https://itun.es/us/2IuGab.c">Apple Podcasts</a> (where we strongly encourage you to leave a five-star review and rating), <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/kris-willis/talking-chop-podcast">Stitcher</a>, <a href="https://player.fm/series/talking-chop-for-atlanta-braves-fans">PlayerFM</a>, or you can find us at our <a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/VMP6478039783">MegaPhone page</a> for all the latest.</p>
<div id="6aLoQN"><iframe frameborder="no" height="200" scrolling="no" src="https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=VMP2086342459" width="100%"></iframe></div>
https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/16/18680077/talking-chop-podcast-episode-170-atlanta-braves-winning-streak-mlb-draft-june-offense-explosionBrad Rowland2019-06-16T16:46:16-04:002019-06-16T16:46:16-04:00Braves Get Statement Win, Beat Down Phillies 15-1
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<img alt="MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ddTh94PTPdFaGu-4x3e2qkLaRjo=/0x0:4274x2849/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64013814/usa_today_12908025.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><em>The Braves’ offense stayed in high gear on Sunday and helped the Braves stretch the division lead to 2 ½ games</em></p> <p id="ZNr5Ty">If the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> were feeling ill effects of losing a late-night heartbreaker on Saturday, they certainly didn’t show on Sunday afternoon. The offense stayed white hot, dropping a 15-1 drubbing on a beleaguered <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> pitching staff. <span>Mike Foltynewicz</span> was wild, but effectively so, and put up one of his better starts of the season on his way to his second win.</p>
<p id="hHJgFU">The Braves set season records in runs (15) and hits (19). Every Braves position player got at least one hit, and seven different Braves got multiple hits - <span>Dansby Swanson</span> being the only outlier. <span>Josh Donaldson</span> slugged a home run in his third straight game, Ronald Acuña, Jr. reached base five times.</p>
<p id="LQBdU2"><span>Foltynewicz</span> looked sharp as a tack over his first two innings, then his control started to wane and every inning seemed like an adventure. His final line - 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 6 K - does not truly tell the tale of the rollercoaster, but he managed to work around trouble and get the job done, something he has struggled to do often this season. Even with the wildness, just being able to limit the damage could make this outing a confidence booster. His velocity certainly made it to the yard today, as he touched 95 MPH on 54 of his 100 pitches - 18 of them were above 97, and he topped out at 99.</p>
<p id="0tJvxA">For the Philies, <span>Vince Velasquez</span> and <span>Cole Irvin</span> piggybacked off each other, and neither proved particularly effective. Velasquez allowed four runs over 2⅓ innings, while Irvin allowed six through 3⅔. <span>Jerad Eickhoff</span> followed them and gave up five runs of his own.</p>
<p id="yfnCDW">The game started in scary fashion, as Ronald Acuña Jr. was hit on the hand, but he appeared to come away unscathed. After Acuña’s HBP, an errant pickoff throw allowed him to take second. Following a <span>Dansby Swanson</span> single, <span>Freddie Freeman</span> kicked off the scoring with a two-run double to right, and he eventually came home on a <span>Nick Markakis</span> double play. Just like that, the Braves were up 3-0.</p>
<p id="HcrA26">A third inning Acuña, Jr, single to left chased Velasquez from the game, and brought rookie lefty Cole Irvin on to pitch. After striking out <span>Freddie Freeman</span>, no small task for a wide-eye rookie, Irvin let a changeup find a little too much of the plate, and <span>Josh Donaldson</span> bounced it off the top of the wall in right center to make it 5-0. It was Donaldson’s third home run of the series, and fourth in the last eight games. If he can parlay this recent outburst into a meaningful stretch, this Braves offense is going to become even scarier.</p>
<p id="TorupD">The offensive machine continued churning in the fourth inning. Consecutive singles from <span>Ozzie Albies</span> and <span>Tyler Flowers</span> allowed <span>Mike Foltynewicz</span> to drop an RBI sac bunt, then Acuña, Jr. sent <span>Flowers</span> home with a single to make it 7-0.</p>
<p id="Twi5i5"><span>Bryce Harper</span> broke up Folty’s shutout bid in the fifth inning, slapping an RBI single into left. An error from <span>Austin Riley</span> let <span>Harper</span> advance to second, putting two runners in scoring position. Instead of caving, Folty battled out of trouble again, striking out Kingery and <span>Rhys Hoskins</span> to end the threat. It was inspiring to see Folty come out victorious, and this will hopefully be a sequence he remembers the next time he gets into a pickle.</p>
<p id="SytDFK">Just when you might think the Braves were going to let their foot off the gas, they just kept pouring it on. Consecutive two-out doubles from Austin Riley and <span>Albies</span> in the fifth inning brought the lead to 9-1, and a sixth inning sacrifice fly from <span>Nick Markakis</span> put the Braves in double digits.</p>
<p id="SUURGS">Once Irvin got pulled for <span>Jerad Eickhoff</span>, there was still no end in sight for the Phillies. Eickhoff allowed a leadoff double to <span>Albies</span> and a deep home run to <span>Tyler Flowers</span>. Two batters later, Ronald Acuña got his fourth hit of the game, and one that went over the bricks in right center - his 16th home run of the season. After a flyout from <span>Swanson</span>, the Braves were able to tack three more runs on the board.</p>
<p id="72yL5T">A hot Braves prospect - not Louisiana Hot Sauce, believe it or not - made his debut, as Atlanta’s #12 prospect <span>Huascar Ynoa</span> came on to pitch the rest of the game. He notched his first two career strikeouts against Rhys Hoskins and <span>Nick Williams</span> in the eighth inning, which will be a pretty cool story to tell for the rest of his career. Like <span>Foltynewicz</span>, Ynoa hit 99 on the radar gun during his outing. When contrasting these with <span>Josh Tomlin</span>, who pitched between them and topped out at 91 mph - it was no wonder the Phillies hitters looked off balance all day.</p>
<p id="bcnZ5F"><span>Sean Rodriguez</span> fulfilled the yearly obligation of a Phillies position player pitching against the Braves, and wound up being their most effective reliever on the day, inducing a 1-2-3 inning.</p>
<p id="HIwRCC">For as embarrassing as the first series of the season was, and for as much mental real estate as that series has occupied in many Braves fans ever since, the series is the polar opposite. The Phillies have had a first row seat to how dominant the Braves are capable of being, and will now get their turn of looking up at the Braves in the standings.</p>
<p id="eRwj7r">These two teams will meet again in Philadelphia, July 2-4.</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/16/18681273/atlanta-braves-get-statement-win-beat-down-philadelphia-phillies-acuna-donaldson-albies-foltynewiczDoc Herbert2019-06-16T12:45:00-04:002019-06-16T12:45:00-04:00Braves vs. Phillies, June 16, 2019: Game Thread and Discussion
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<img alt="MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RuBHEFGCdturN6__d7iYA8Nb2gw=/0x0:5568x3712/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64013116/usa_today_12891111.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p><em>It’s Foltynewicz vs. Velasquez in a Sunday matinee</em></p> <p id="rZKlzu">Bragging rights are at stake this afternoon, as the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> and <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> will each seek to sway the series. Though the Phillies will walk away from this series with the better head-to-head season record between the two, the Braves could even the series record at one apiece with a victory today.</p>
<p id="u2bHjD">The Braves’ offense, which has been on a roll recently, has looked rejuvenated against a Phillies team that stifled them in the first weekend of the season. If Josh Donaldson can continue some of his recent good work at the plate, the Braves’ offensive unit could be on the verge of going into overdrive.</p>
<p id="KMQw0X">Regardless of today’s outcome, one thing is for sure - the Braves have looked like a much more confident and capable team this weekend than they did when these two faced off back in March. As there are 13 games remaining between these teams after this series wraps up, any momentum is crucial, and will help propel them for future matchups.</p>
<p id="iWu6X0">Keep up with us this afternoon in the comments. Or, rather, we’ll try and keep up with you.</p>
<p id="9ih4ri">If you need any additional info for today’s game, feel free to brush up on the information we have so generously provided for you:</p>
<p id="FuVvxL"><a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2019/6/16/18680946/atlanta-braves-seek-to-swing-series-in-rubber-match-against-philadelphia-phillies">PREVIEW</a> | <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2019/6/16/18681006/atlanta-braves-philadelphia-phillies-lineups-snitker-kapler">LINEUP</a></p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/16/18681016/atlanta-braves-philadelphia-phillies-june-16-2019-game-thread-and-discussionDoc Herbert2019-06-16T12:00:44-04:002019-06-16T12:00:44-04:00Newcomb “feels fine” after frightening injury
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<img alt="Philadelphia Phillies v Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ev9FI-o9tpMBAzJm66cTHTxE8Sc=/4x0:4924x3280/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64013039/1156176516.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="uAJQ6M">Sean Newcomb may have dodged a serious bullet. After taking a 102-mph <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2019/6/15/18680627/sean-newcomb-leaves-came-in-third-inning-after-taking-line-drive-to-his-head-atlanta-braves">line drive off the back of the head</a> in last night’s game against the Phillies, Mark Bowman reports that Newcomb slept well and is feeling fine the day after.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Newcomb slept throughout the night without any problem. He has a bump on his head and his neck is a little stiff. But other than that, he says he feels fine. <a href="https://t.co/AgqtSF3q4c">https://t.co/AgqtSF3q4c</a></p>— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mlbbowman/status/1140271728695894016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2019</a>
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<p id="3xCNsI">Newcomb <a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/sean-newcomb-hit-by-line-drive-exits">reportedly</a> passed all testing through the concussion protocol and other examinations after exiting the game in the third inning. The Braves will continue to monitor Newcomb’s injury, but the Braves’ lefty might be able to make it through this scary incident with only some soreness. The Braves have yet to move Newcomb to the Injured List, but they could still do so to give Newcomb proper time to heal and to make room in the rotation for Dallas Keuchel, who completed his second start in the minors last night.</p>
<p id="DvtEvw">There will be plenty of time to talk figure out how this could impact the club, but for now the Braves and Newcomb can thank their lucky stars that this injury was not as severe as it could have been.</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/16/18681025/update-newcomb-feels-fine-after-frightening-injuryAnthony Traurig2019-06-16T11:30:00-04:002019-06-16T11:30:00-04:00Snitker Stays The Course While Injuries Force Kapler To Get Weird
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<img alt="New York Mets v Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dRHTCvl2CXd5BjI-sw3keFa9blY=/0x88:1907x1359/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64012908/1142112073.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>No lineup trickery today as Snitker goes with the standard lineup</em></p> <p id="Vvsvfd">While both the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> and the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> would love to scratch a win across today, Brian Snitker and <span>Gabe Kapler</span> will be going about it in different ways. Snitker will roll with his standard configuration, while Kapler will make some small tweaks that have earned him a reputation as a perpetual tinkerer.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">First pitch at 1:20 today at <a href="https://twitter.com/SunTrustPark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SunTrustPark</a>!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ChopOn?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ChopOn</a> <a href="https://t.co/C95Eiuelqw">pic.twitter.com/C95Eiuelqw</a></p>— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) <a href="https://twitter.com/Braves/status/1140259974041481216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2019</a>
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<p id="HvzeDc">Like last night, <span>Tyler Flowers</span> will get the start, and he will catch the enigmatic <span>Mike Foltynewicz</span> today. He will bat eighth, allowing <span>Ozzie Albies</span> to move into the seventh spot, a common offshoot of <span>Flowers</span>’ presence in the lineup.</p>
<p id="FUmWy7">Strangely enough, Kapler’s lineup manipulation is more out of necessity than out of sheer restlessness. After Jay Bruce left last night’s game with hamstring tightness and JT Realmuto took a foul ball to the groin, this is how the Phillies will line up today:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Let’s take the series. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RingTheBell?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RingTheBell</a> <a href="https://t.co/K6w22h6JgC">pic.twitter.com/K6w22h6JgC</a></p>— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) <a href="https://twitter.com/Phillies/status/1140266538940997632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2019</a>
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<p id="YtVYzk">The red hot <span>Scott Kingery</span> moves to third in the lineup and <span>Cesar Hernandez</span> moves up to fifth. <span>Nick Williams</span> gets the start in left field in Bruce’s place, and <span>Andrew Knapp</span> will start behind the plate for Realmuto. <span>Maikel Franco</span> will get the nod at third base over <span>Sean Rodriguez</span>, who started both of the first two games of the series at the hot corner.</p>
<p id="MLJYaW">As noted in today’s <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/2019/6/16/18680946/atlanta-braves-seek-to-swing-series-in-rubber-match-against-philadelphia-phillies">preview</a>, this will be <span>Mike Foltynewicz</span>’s 13th career start against the Fightin’ Phils; he holds a 6-3 record with a 3.18 ERA. The Phillies will turn to <span>Vince Velasquez</span>, who will be making his 10th career start against the Braves. Velasquez has scuffled mightily, posting an 0-5 record with a 4.85 ERA.</p>
<p id="cBoTK2">First pitch is 1:20pm ET.</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/16/18681006/atlanta-braves-philadelphia-phillies-lineups-snitker-kaplerDoc Herbert2019-06-16T10:30:00-04:002019-06-16T10:30:00-04:00Braves Seek to Swing Series in Rubber Match Against Phillies
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<img alt="Milwaukee Brewers v Atlanta Braves" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/gc4a-7AHSRK13k4jmtL5kk_CVtQ=/8x0:4234x2817/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/64012740/1150330253.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p><em>The Braves will stay in first place no matter what happens today, but a victory would create some breathing room</em></p> <p id="SrJc86">Atlanta’s eight-game winning streak is now a thing of the past, but the <a href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a> still sit atop the NL East by 1½ games over the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a>. After a ninth-inning bullpen implosion caused the Braves to drop one at the hands of their division rival on Saturday night, the Braves will try to start a new winning streak on Sunday afternoon and create some distance at the top of the division.</p>
<p id="dEPpTD">Coming into this weekend, we knew this series would give us an update on how these teams stack up in their current forms. One thing we already knew still rings true - if either team is going to make any real noise in the division race or the playoffs that wait beyond, they will both need to bolster their bullpens.</p>
<p id="kBXZ3f"><span>Mike Foltynewicz</span> will lead the charge for the Braves in today’s matinee. He has struggled to find the 2018 form that earned him a ticket to the All-Star Game, and a big reason why has been the home run ball - it has plagued him like no other time in his career (2.74 HR/9). His last outing (the second of two straight against the <a href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a>) wasn’t sparkling overall, but he did not allow a home run for only the second time this year. With any luck, this is a positive aspect to build on.</p>
<p id="cvVdIz">All things considered, Folty’s line in 2019 is an unsightly 1-5 with a 6.02 ERA | 6.32 FIP. His last five starts have been better than the four that preceded them, and in addition to working towards limiting his home run, he has also kept walks to a minimum (the last outing notwithstanding, where he gave four free passes). Folty has faced the Phillies more than he has faced any other team in his career, and he pitched well against them, going 6-3 over 12 starts with a 3.18 ERA.</p>
<p id="PcXsRu">Per Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki, <span>Vince Velasquez</span> will get the start today for the Phillies. This will be his first start since May 6, as he has been working out of the bullpen - he even appeared in Friday night’s game. On the season, he is 2-3 over 16 appearances (6 starts) with a 4.08 ERA | 5.93 FIP. Like <span>Foltynewicz</span>, he is really struggling with the home run ball, allowing 2.27 HR/9. With Velasquez’s arm likely not stretched out to go deep into this game, this could quickly turn into a Johnny Wholestaff game for the Phillies. With the way their ‘pen has been pitching as of late, that could be a welcome development.</p>
<p id="2IE6fI">If the wind is blowing out today, there is a real capacity for this game to turn into a 14-12 slugfest. Let’s just hope the Braves come out on top.</p>
<h3 id="1qWYNe"><strong>Game Info</strong></h3>
<p id="3bRz7g"><strong>Game Date/Time:</strong> Sunday, June 16, 1:20 p.m. ET</p>
<p id="jGhbTF"><strong>Location:</strong> SunTrust Park, Atlanta, GA</p>
<p id="wwpgKC"><strong>TV:</strong> Fox Sports South</p>
<p id="rBkOhb"><strong>Streaming:</strong> MLB.tv</p>
<p id="YGSRkb"><strong>Radio:</strong> 680 AM / 93.7 FM The Fan, Rock 100.5, Braves Radio Network</p>
https://www.batterypower.com/2019/6/16/18680946/atlanta-braves-seek-to-swing-series-in-rubber-match-against-philadelphia-philliesDoc Herbert