Here’s the link.

I’m also happy to announce that you’ll see a new face as Bill Chafin will join the crew to help cover the offseason. He’s one of the most knowledgeable Braves fans I know, and can’t get through a simple greeting without mentioning the team so I’m sure he’ll have lots to say.

The move will also present us with an opportunity to improve the site’s appearance and format so look forward to better coverage of the offseason and beyond, starting with this week’s GM meetings in Orlando.

Dan Uggla anybody?

ATLANTA
Omar Infante – 2B
Jason Heyward – RF
Martin Prado – 3B
Derek Lee – 1B
Matt Diaz – LF
Alex Gonzalez – SS
David Ross – C
Rick Ankiel – CF
Kenshin Kawakami – P

FLORIDA
Cameron Maybin – CF
Logan Morrison – LF
Hanley Ramirez – SS
Dan Uggla – 2B
Gaby Sanchez – 1B
Chad Tracy – 3B
Mike Stanton – RF
Brad Davis – C
Andrew Miller – P

PITCHING MATCHUP
ATL: RHP Kenshin Kawakami (1-9, 4.75 ERA, 83.1 IP, 57 K)
- Kawakami’s last start came June 26 when he allowed one run in 7 innings against the Tigers.
- In his last 4 starts, KK has a llowed 7 ER in 20 IP with a 3.15 ERA, 21 K and 10 BB.
- Kawakami pitched 5 games in the minors and went 0-1 with a 4.29 ERA.
- He is 1-4 with a 5.55 ERA in 5 games (4 starts) against the Marlins including a start on May 25 when he allowed 3 runs in 6 innings.

FLA: LHP Andrew Miller (0-0, 4.50, 10 IP, 5 K)
- Miller pitched 4 innings of relief against the Braves on May 28 and allowed 4 runs (3 ER).
- In 21 starts combined between A+ and AA, Miller is 2-9 this season with a 5.35 ERA, 101 IP, 89 K and 76 BB.
- He is 2-0 with a 3.32 ERA in 6 games (3 starts) against the Braves.

GAME NOTES
- The Braves are 2 games ahead of second place Philadelphia.
- Atlanta is 7-5 against the Marlins this season and will face them 6 more times this season starting tonight.
- Jason Heyward was hitting .533 (24-45) in his past 11 games prior to last night with 4 2B, 3B, 4 HR and 12 RBI in that span.
- Hanley Ramirez is hitting .457 (21-46) in his last 12 games with 4 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI and 6 SB and is currently riding a 9-game hitting streak.

ATL vs. Miller
Infante 1-3, BB
Heyward 0-1 BB
Prado 1-4, 2 K
Diaz 3-0, HR, BB, K
Gonzalez 0-2
Ankiel 2-3, K

FLA vs. Kawakami
Maybin 2-2 HR
Ramirez 3-12, 3B, HR, BB, 3 K
Uggla 4-0, 2B, HR, 3 BB, 3 K
Sanchez 1-4, K

W:Santana (11-9)
L:Hudson (15-6)
S:Takahashi (3)

GAME NOTES
- The Braves got a mixed bag tonight from Tim Hudson. After a 35 pitch first inning where Hudson fell victim to poor defense, a mistake or two and some bad luck, the Mets were ahead 2-0. In the second inning Huddy started a string of retiring 14 consecutive batters. The Mets tacked on another run in the 6th with a David Wright homer and that would be enough to beat the Braves’ offense tonight. Hudson was solid but not great tonight, however he still had ridiculous movement on his 2-seam and splitter (see: 17-1 GO-AO). Here’s his line: 7 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, BB, 4 K, HR.
- Brian McCann was the offensive star tonight. He got the Braves started with a solo HR (20) in the 2nd and finished 3-4.
- Melky Cabrera was the only other player with a multi-hit game going 2-3 with a walk.
- Derek Lee was 0-4 with 2 K. Apart from 2 or 3 games he’s looked really bad at the plate. I hope Bobby is considering taking him out of the cleanup spot and sticking with Mac who is pretty hot right now.
- The defense was pretty bad tonight. In the first, Melky chased after a
Beltran liner to RC that he probably should have tracked down. But he didn’t. Then on the relay, Infante decided he would try and throw Beltran out at third, only Beltran had already reached 3rd. Oh, and the throw was bad. So cement in the Melk-man’s boots and a brain fart from Omar and the Mets were up 1-0. Infante also let a hard hit grounder into right field that he probably should have stopped.
- On the plus side, Prado made a nice diving play to his right and Cabrera made a diving grab in center. Of course he probably should have caught the ball on the run but he kinda jogged (seriously Melky check your shoes) for the first 10 steps.
- Moylan pitched in the 8th, faced four batters and walked two. Whether it’s an injury or fatigue I don’t know, but he hasn’t been himself for over a month now. Atlanta will need him for the stretch run.
- Hudson took a sharp grounder off his pitching hand in the 6th and walked off the field shaking his hand. He came back to pitch the 7th but many seemed to believe the hand was bothering him.
- The Phillies beat the Rockies tonight and are now 2 games back of the Braves.

NEXT UP
The Braves hit the road for 6 games starting with a 3-game series in Florida. Tomorrow RHP Kenshin Kawakami will face LHP Andrew Miller. Game time is 7:00 p.m.

NEW YORK
Luis Castillo – 2B
Lucas Duda – LF
Carlos Beltran – CF
Chris Carter – RF
David Wright – 3B
Ike Davis – 1B
Joaquin Arias – SS
Henry Blanco – C
Johan Santana – P

ATLANTA
Omar Infante – 2B
Jason Heyward – RF
Martin Prado – 3B
Derek Lee – 1B
Brian McCann – C
Matt Diaz – LF
Alex Gonzalez – SS
Melky Cabrera – CF
Tim Hudson – P

PITCHING MATCHUP
NYM: LHP Johan Santana (10-9, 3.02 ERA, 194 IP, 141 K)
- Santana is coming off a 7 inning effort when he allowed 4 R on 8 H, BB and 4 K.
- The Braves managed just 2 runs off him the first two times they faced him this year (14 IP) then scored 4 runs (7 IP) in their last meeting.
- Santana has a 8.04 ERA in the first inning this season while hitters are batting .317/.371/.525 against him.
- He is 2-6 with a 2.31 ERA in 11 career starts against the Braves.

ATL: RHP Tim Hudson (15-5, 2.24 ERA, 184.2 IP, 109 K)
- Huddy threw his best game of the year in his last start, allowing just one run over 7 innings with a career-high 13 K.
- He faced the Mets July 10 (7.0 IP, 0 R) and August 2 (6.0 IP, 2 R)
- Hudson is 12-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 18 career starts against the Mets.
- In his last 8 games, the Braves’ ace is 6-0 with a 1.43 ERA, 46 K, 11 BB and 1 HR allowed in 56.2 IP.
- Hudson was named the NL Pitcher of the Month for August today.

GAME NOTES
- The Braves are 3 games ahead of 2nd place Philadelphia.
- Atlanta is a season high 23 games over .500. The last time they reached that mark was September 11, 2005.
- The Bravos are going for their first 4-game sweep since May of 2008.
- Troy Glaus was activated from the DL and will be available for tonight’s game.

NYM vs. Hudson
Castillo 8-33, BB, 3 K
Beltran 24-63 (.381), 3 2B, 4 HR, 9 BB, 8 K
Wright 10-49 (.204), HR, 5 BB, 3 K
Davis 1-4, 2 BB
Blanco 1-8, 2 K

ATL vs. Santana
Infante 7-36, BB, 9 K
Heyward 1-6, BB, K
Prado 3-18, 2B, 2 BB
Lee 3-9, 2B, HR, 2 K
McCann 7-27, 2B, 2 HR, BB, 6 K
Diaz 16-30, 3 2B, HR, BB, 3 K
Gonzalez 2-10, 5 K
Cabrera 3-15, 2 2B, 2 BB, K

In 8 rehab games at Gwinnett, Glaus hit .333 (10-30) with 2 2B, 2 HR and 8 RBI all while playing 3B.

In 466 PA for Atlanta, Glaus has hit .239/.343/.406 with 18 2B, 16 HR, 70 RBI, 95 K and 61 BB.
___

The buzz is that Glaus isn’t going to get many starts down the stretch. Freeman is supposedly the backup 1B at this point and with Conrad, Prado and Infante playing well there won’t be many opportunities at 3B. From what I hear, Bobby looks at him as a power bat off the bench which is really the best thing for Glaus. Big Troy’s biggest value is at the plate and with his knees barely holding together, playing the field will only hamper his production at the plate.

RHP Kenshin Kawakami is expected to take the mound in Lowe’s place.

NEW YORK
Luis Castillo – 2B
Josh Thole – C
David Wright – 3B
Chris Carter – RF
Carlos Beltran – CF
Ike Davis – 1B
Lucas Duda – LF
Reuben Tejada – SS
Mike Pelfrey – P

ATLANTA
Omar Infante – SS
Jason Heyward – RF
Martin Prado – 2B
Brian McCann – C
Eric Hinske – LF
Freddie Freeman – 1B
Brooks Conrad – 3B
Rick Ankiel – CF
Tommy Hanson – P

PITCHING MATCHUP
NYM: RHP Mike Pelfrey (13-7, 3.61 ERA, 159.2 IP, 91 K)
- Pelfrey was dominant in his last start, allowing no runs over 8 innnings.
- In his last 4 starts, Pelfrey has a 3-1 record with a 1.20 ERA.
- He has faced the Braves 4 times this year. In the first two games, he allowed 0 runs over 5 innings and 2 runs over 7.2 innings. In the next two he allowed 4 runs through 4 innings and 5 runs (3 earned) over 4 innings.
- Pelfrey is 4-7 with a 5.45 ERA in 14 career games (13 starts) against the Braves.

ATL: Tommy Hanson (8-10, 3.76 ERA, 158 IP, 144 K)
- Tommy was hit hard in his last outing, allowing 7 runs (6 ER) to the Marlins over 5 innings. He allowed 8 H, 0 BB, 3 K and 4 HR.
- In the 10 games prior to his last start, he was 1-4 with a 2.14 ERA with just 1 HR allowed.
- Hanson faced the Mets on April 25 (5 IP, 1 R, 0 ER) and July 9 (5.2 IP, 2 R)
- He is 1-1 with a 1.02 ERA in 3 career starts against the Mets.

GAME NOTES

NYM vs. Hanson
Castillo 2-5, BB, K
Thole 2-5, BB, 2 K
Wright 0-7, 4 K
Beltran 0-2, BB
Davis 1-5, 2B, 3 K

ATL vs. Pelfrey
Infante 5-12, K
Heyward 0-8, K
Prado 7-16, 4 2B, HR, 3 BB, 2 K
McCann 18-37 (.486), 8 2B, 2 HR, 5 BB, 3 K
Hinske 4-8, 2B, HR, BB, 2 K
Ankiel 2-7, BB, K

These are Braves’ opening day 1B from 2000 to this season. Barring something drastic, Freddie Freeman will join that list next season, but his career starts tonight. He will be in the starting lineup batting sixth, playing 1B and wearing #5.