LIVE: Will it be a sweep night for Braves over Nationals?
Braves closerCraig Kimbrel has a win and a save in the first two games of the Washington series. (AP photo)
Welcome to the Braves-Washington Nationals series finale that few of us believed would mean anything, and actually we’re still not sure if it means anything, but then again there is this thought: What if it means something?
After consecutive narrow victories Friday (2-1) and Saturday (5-4), the Braves go into tonight’s nationally televised game with a chance for their first series sweep over Washington in three years (Sept. 25-27, 2009). More significant than that historical moment (work with me here) is that the Braves have an opportunity to pull within 5½ games of first place in the National League East after going into this series 8½ back — and, depending on your perspective, seemingly comatose after being swept in Milwaukee.
Now, we learned last season what odds and percentages really mean. (Nothing.) The website Cool Standings calculates the Braves’ chances of winning the East at 1.8 percent going into Sunday (and that has skyrocketed from 0.5 percent before Friday’s game).
But here’s another way to look at it. If the Braves win tonight, they would be 84-63 with 15 games remaining. The National would be 89-57 with 16 left. Even if Washington went only 8-8 in those games, the Braves would need to go 13-2 just to tie them.
Cue Clint Eastwood: “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feeling lucky?”
Realistically, the rest of the season is mostly about securing a wild card spot, home field for that game and preparing for the postseason. But publicly, nobody in the clubhouse is conceding anything. Actually, nobody seems consumed with first place. It’s an amazingly low-stress clubhouse now, which is the polar opposite from a year ago at this time. I know everybody is burned out on discussing last season’s flameout but the difference in attitude this year is noteworthy.
If the Braves sweep, it would be significant just from the standpoint that the Braves haven’t folded and seem ready for the stretch run. But we’ll see where things go from here.
Tonight’s pitching match-up: Washington will go with its best starter — at least its best pitcher that hasn’t been shut down for the season — Gio Gonzalez (19-7, 2.93). The Braves go with Mike Minor (8-10, 4.42). Only one lineup change tonight: Reed Johnson is in left field tonight for Martin Prado, who is being rested. Brian McCann (knee) is out but he’s available for pinch-hitting duties.
That’s it for now. What are your thoughts on the Braves moving forward?
The cyber-venting lines are open.
By Jeff Schultz
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220 comments Add your comment
crm300
September 16th, 2012
10:41 pm
Suppose someone can get a hit with RISP?
Mikey
September 16th, 2012
10:41 pm
Let’s get Minor a well deserved win tonight.
Jeff Schultz
September 16th, 2012
10:42 pm
That’s where speed helps — Bourn scores on heyward ground out. 3-1. Huge run there.
JSS
September 16th, 2012
10:43 pm
crm300…
If last year didn’t send you to the great hunting ground in the sky (as they say on bad 60s westerns), the Braves won’t do you in anytime soon…
bulldogbubba
September 16th, 2012
10:43 pm
Do people still think we should not sign Bourn next year? He seems to be making plays again.
ER Steve
September 16th, 2012
10:43 pm
That’s why Bourn get’s paid this summer. Speed makes up for mistakes.
Sonny Clusters
September 16th, 2012
10:43 pm
If this pitching goes away, there will be no answer/remedy for selfish baseball and swinging at 3-0 pitches that get popped up, and for not running all-out to first base and for not being a smart baseball player. We remember a left handed pitcher (a young one) that said one day he never thought about the game he was just pitching. Second time through the lineup he always got hammered. Thinking is important in baseball and if the player isn’t smart enough to think for himself you’ve gotta hope there is some help for him in the dugout. You know what? There doesn’t seem to be very deep thoughts taking place over there.
crm300
September 16th, 2012
10:45 pm
Last year did nearly kill me, JSS!
Bill
September 16th, 2012
10:45 pm
Bourn is getting hot..on base 4 0ut of last 5 ab’s and great base running tonight.
Thanks Jeff for another great night..You earned your pay this week.(3 live games)
Hillbilly D
September 16th, 2012
10:45 pm
JSS @ 10:37
That’s a good point but just because he has the green light doesn’t mean he has to swing. Even, we know you pick a pitch and none of us has ever played in MLB……or at least as far as we know.
RBI
September 16th, 2012
10:46 pm
I wish Freeman would make them pay here, and jack one out.
JSS
September 16th, 2012
10:46 pm
Ha ha, Zane Smith!!!
Bronkelliott
September 16th, 2012
10:46 pm
Oh no look who’s up, it should be Prado
Jeff Schultz
September 16th, 2012
10:46 pm
Another error, another hit batter — I think the Washington Nationals are turning back into the Washington Nationals.
Hillbilly D
September 16th, 2012
10:46 pm
Last year did nearly kill me, JSS!
How did you ever survive the Braves of the 70’s?
Growler
September 16th, 2012
10:46 pm
crm300, the Braves have had 38 wins by 4 or more runs… plenty of blowouts this year. That’s why Kimbrel and company have far fewer appearances this year.
RBI
September 16th, 2012
10:47 pm
Yes, I would have put Prado in there to PH for Uggla.
Jeff Schultz
September 16th, 2012
10:48 pm
Uggla. Clutch. Honest.
crm300
September 16th, 2012
10:48 pm
How about that Uggla!!!!!
Uggs to make amends?
September 16th, 2012
10:48 pm
let’s see
Uggs to make amends?
September 16th, 2012
10:49 pm
Yes!!!!!!
Hillbilly D
September 16th, 2012
10:49 pm
We remember a left handed pitcher (a young one) that said one day he never thought about the game he was just pitching. Second time through the lineup he always got hammered.
Saw an interview with Tom Seaver a while back. He said in the first and second ABs, he was thinking about how he was going to pitch that guy’s fourth AB. They don’t make many like that anymore.
Bill
September 16th, 2012
10:49 pm
Finally, Uggla gets lucky.
Growler
September 16th, 2012
10:49 pm
Uggla taketh away, Uggla giveth.
Mikey
September 16th, 2012
10:49 pm
Uggla owns this guy, bout time
Uggs to make amends?
September 16th, 2012
10:49 pm
Thank You, Uggs.
Remley
September 16th, 2012
10:49 pm
Way to go Danny boy!
JSS
September 16th, 2012
10:50 pm
” just because he has the green light doesn’t mean he has to swing. ”
I know that… You know… But Dan U doesn’t get that! I remember that light went off in Dale Murphy’s head… Chipper’s made a career of walking, you’d think he’d tell Uggla…
RBI
September 16th, 2012
10:51 pm
I’ll take that; but, Mr. Freeman, never be the last out at 3rd.
crm300
September 16th, 2012
10:51 pm
Sure would be nice not to have to use OFlaherty and Kimbrel tonite.
Remley
September 16th, 2012
10:51 pm
Jeff, think the’ll give Kimbral the night off with a 4 run lead?
SO AL FAN
September 16th, 2012
10:52 pm
UGGLY GOT LUCKY
JSS
September 16th, 2012
10:52 pm
@ Hillbilly, that freak in Detroit is like that, Verlander is scary in that way
bulldogbubba
September 16th, 2012
10:52 pm
Fredi told us all along Uggla was going to break out.Once every 10-12 games.
crm300
September 16th, 2012
10:52 pm
Pouring one more scotch for the evening. Come on, bullpen.
Mikey
September 16th, 2012
10:53 pm
Thank you Adam for thinking you had time to for a DP against the fastest guy in baseball with a 1 run lead. Kimbrel go sit down!
Bill
September 16th, 2012
10:54 pm
Sometimes it better to be lucky than good!
Hillbilly D
September 16th, 2012
10:55 pm
JSS
I don’t watch the AL much but I have seen Verlander pitch a couple times. The good ones realize you pitch as much with your head as your arm.
crm300
September 16th, 2012
10:55 pm
Nice play, Simmons!
Remley
September 16th, 2012
10:55 pm
What was tonight’s attendence? Has most of the crowd hung around?Nice play Simmons!
RBI
September 16th, 2012
10:56 pm
I like Avilan.
Growler
September 16th, 2012
10:57 pm
If the Braves hold on here, magic number to clinch a Wild Card spot will fall to 8 over the Dodgers, 7 over Milwaukee and Pittsburgh, 5 over Arizona and Philadelphia… with 15 games for them to go.
crm300
September 16th, 2012
10:57 pm
I like that Avilan!
Bill
September 16th, 2012
10:57 pm
Avilan!!!!!!
Rimfire
September 16th, 2012
10:58 pm
Baseball! Gotta Love it!
Mikey
September 16th, 2012
11:00 pm
Every time speed trumps luck!
JSS
September 16th, 2012
11:01 pm
Growler…
Sssssssssssssssssshhhhhhh!!! After last year magic number should be outlawed in this town…
Bronkelliott
September 16th, 2012
11:01 pm
The Braves really need a healthy McCann!
reality
September 16th, 2012
11:03 pm
Great game by the Braves, but now the announcers are telling us how genius Fredi and Frank have been about Medlin’s innings. I wish they would just stop. Taking credit for this good luck is just sickening. Those two had Medlin as the long reliever from day one and tried everything they could to keep him there. Sheets, Malholm, and brought Jair back twice just so they didn’t have to put Meds in the rotation. I just wish they could be honest about it.
Bill
September 16th, 2012
11:03 pm
JEFF..You going to do Falcons Alive tomorrow Night?
Hope so…..