Post by Grubs - Philly on Nov 22, 2019 5:41:30 GMT -5
Miami Marlins (74-57) vs. Atlanta Braves (61-69)
Hellooooo September. Two rivals who are happy to bid adieu to August meet in Atlanta for the opening act of a Game of the Week double bill.
After vaulting to the top of the NL East, upstart Miami hit the dog days of summer head on, dropping 13 of 15 in a frustrating stretch that culminated with a 4-game sweep by division leading Philadelphia. The Fish then nipped the Pirates in late innings, split the month’s final series against Pittsburgh and swept the Nationals to sail into September with the wind at their back and a narrow lead for the first NL Wild Card spot.
They’ll face division rival Atlanta, who was above .500 going into August, but hit the skids and cashed out with a 10-19 record for the month. September hasn’t been much better, as the Braves dropped two of three to the Yankees. They’re still a .500 club at home, though, and the young lineup has been strong against right-handed pitching.
Rookies of different kinds square off as the Marlins start 31-year-old Japanese import Tak Norimoto and the Braves send former 1st rounder Nick Capriglione to the hill.
Players to Watch:
Miami
SP Tak Norimoto. At 12-6 with a 3.72 ERA, the 31-year-old PBA rookie has shown why he was dominant in the Nippon League. The righty is striking out more than a batter per inning with pinpoint control. A rough July looked like it might be the beginning of the end, but he rebounded in August to post solid numbers, if unspectacular ones. He’s everything the Marlins could have hoped for and his 3-year, $21 million deal could be a steal. He sports a plus fastball, curve and slider. His changeup has shown promise, but has been an off-and-on pitch in the States.
3B Blake Tiberi. Like another BT — Brick Tamland — the Marlins’ third baseman is probably wanted for murder. He’s been crushing righties this season, notching a .915 OPS compared to a .653 mark against lefties. There’s not enough of a ratings difference to explain the disparity, but OOTP wants what it wants. Assuming he starts, a late-inning matchup against one of Atlanta’s lefties could be decisive.
LF Wuilmer Becerra. With speedster, defensive whiz and fan favorite Trent Clark questionable with a bum knee, Becerra could get the start. He’s more of a lefty specialist, but is serviceable against right-handed pitching. He’s been strong at the plate his last three games, though he did commit an error in one of them and is a definite defensive downgrade. The Marlins carry six outfielders, so he’s no guarantee, but his best position is left and the team will need a healthy Clark down the stretch.
Atlanta
SP Nate Capriglione. A first-round pick in 2020, Capriglione is a power pitcher with lights-out potential. He has a three-pitch arsenal which sports a fastball that sits 95-97 mph, a slider and a forkball. The slider is still developing, which means the 24-year-old is riding his fastball. If it’s working for him, the forkball is a serviceable secondary pitch and the slider has enough bite to generate the occasional swing and miss. He has the stamina to be a workhorse and frequently trots out for the 6th or 7th inning if things are going well. Expect him to put runners on base via the walk.
C Steven Williams. The Braves’ primary backstop, Williams has been a defensive rock, gunning down 24 would-be base stealers — a 37.5 percent clip. The 23-year-old marvel has teamed with first-year pitching coach Kohei Tanaka to sport a catcher’s ERA of less than 4.00. As good as Williams has been behind the plate, he’s been less than thrilling stepping up to it. Fellow rookie Kennet Sorenson hits a full 200 OPS points better against righties. While Sorenson doesn’t have the defensive chops of Williams, he calls a great game and has been at least as good as the youngster trying to hold down the starting job.
RP Braves Bullpen. Atlanta has an upper-echelon bullpen that’s been serviceable even during the recent slump. It’s been 11 games since the relief corps suffered a true blowup. Righties Brock Stewart and Luken Baker have been downright hot and able to pick up the middle innings with aplomb. But lone lefties Robbie Ross, Jr. and Rockies’ trivia answer Philip Pfeifer are slumping. Without a true closer, the Braves spread the saves love around, but if the critical innings come up lefty, things could get interesting.
Trivia:
The Braves easily have the PBA’s youngest lineup, with an average batter’s age of 24.32 years. What lineup trait characteristic of a rebuilding system does Atlanta share with Seattle and Baltimore, the two next-youngest PBA lineups?
Hellooooo September. Two rivals who are happy to bid adieu to August meet in Atlanta for the opening act of a Game of the Week double bill.
After vaulting to the top of the NL East, upstart Miami hit the dog days of summer head on, dropping 13 of 15 in a frustrating stretch that culminated with a 4-game sweep by division leading Philadelphia. The Fish then nipped the Pirates in late innings, split the month’s final series against Pittsburgh and swept the Nationals to sail into September with the wind at their back and a narrow lead for the first NL Wild Card spot.
They’ll face division rival Atlanta, who was above .500 going into August, but hit the skids and cashed out with a 10-19 record for the month. September hasn’t been much better, as the Braves dropped two of three to the Yankees. They’re still a .500 club at home, though, and the young lineup has been strong against right-handed pitching.
Rookies of different kinds square off as the Marlins start 31-year-old Japanese import Tak Norimoto and the Braves send former 1st rounder Nick Capriglione to the hill.
Players to Watch:
Miami
SP Tak Norimoto. At 12-6 with a 3.72 ERA, the 31-year-old PBA rookie has shown why he was dominant in the Nippon League. The righty is striking out more than a batter per inning with pinpoint control. A rough July looked like it might be the beginning of the end, but he rebounded in August to post solid numbers, if unspectacular ones. He’s everything the Marlins could have hoped for and his 3-year, $21 million deal could be a steal. He sports a plus fastball, curve and slider. His changeup has shown promise, but has been an off-and-on pitch in the States.
3B Blake Tiberi. Like another BT — Brick Tamland — the Marlins’ third baseman is probably wanted for murder. He’s been crushing righties this season, notching a .915 OPS compared to a .653 mark against lefties. There’s not enough of a ratings difference to explain the disparity, but OOTP wants what it wants. Assuming he starts, a late-inning matchup against one of Atlanta’s lefties could be decisive.
LF Wuilmer Becerra. With speedster, defensive whiz and fan favorite Trent Clark questionable with a bum knee, Becerra could get the start. He’s more of a lefty specialist, but is serviceable against right-handed pitching. He’s been strong at the plate his last three games, though he did commit an error in one of them and is a definite defensive downgrade. The Marlins carry six outfielders, so he’s no guarantee, but his best position is left and the team will need a healthy Clark down the stretch.
Atlanta
SP Nate Capriglione. A first-round pick in 2020, Capriglione is a power pitcher with lights-out potential. He has a three-pitch arsenal which sports a fastball that sits 95-97 mph, a slider and a forkball. The slider is still developing, which means the 24-year-old is riding his fastball. If it’s working for him, the forkball is a serviceable secondary pitch and the slider has enough bite to generate the occasional swing and miss. He has the stamina to be a workhorse and frequently trots out for the 6th or 7th inning if things are going well. Expect him to put runners on base via the walk.
C Steven Williams. The Braves’ primary backstop, Williams has been a defensive rock, gunning down 24 would-be base stealers — a 37.5 percent clip. The 23-year-old marvel has teamed with first-year pitching coach Kohei Tanaka to sport a catcher’s ERA of less than 4.00. As good as Williams has been behind the plate, he’s been less than thrilling stepping up to it. Fellow rookie Kennet Sorenson hits a full 200 OPS points better against righties. While Sorenson doesn’t have the defensive chops of Williams, he calls a great game and has been at least as good as the youngster trying to hold down the starting job.
RP Braves Bullpen. Atlanta has an upper-echelon bullpen that’s been serviceable even during the recent slump. It’s been 11 games since the relief corps suffered a true blowup. Righties Brock Stewart and Luken Baker have been downright hot and able to pick up the middle innings with aplomb. But lone lefties Robbie Ross, Jr. and Rockies’ trivia answer Philip Pfeifer are slumping. Without a true closer, the Braves spread the saves love around, but if the critical innings come up lefty, things could get interesting.
Trivia:
The Braves easily have the PBA’s youngest lineup, with an average batter’s age of 24.32 years. What lineup trait characteristic of a rebuilding system does Atlanta share with Seattle and Baltimore, the two next-youngest PBA lineups?
