Post by Grubs - Philly on Mar 5, 2021 17:46:43 GMT -5
Atlanta Braves (62-35, 1st) at Colorado Rockies (55-41, 2nd)
ATL: Nate Capriglione (12-4, 3.40)
COL: Michael Fulmer (11-4, 3.82)
Two upstart teams at the top of ultra-competitive divisions square off in what’s arguably the most important series coming out of the All-Star break. Colorado’s strong at home, but the Braves are among the NL’s best on the road. Emerging stalwart Nate Capriglione and veteran rotation leader Michael Fulmer are set to take the most intimidating hill in all the Rocky Mountains: the pitching mound at Coors Field.
Rockies
The hosts have found a way to win at elevation with aggressive offense and pitching that can keep them in the game. The tandem of veteran Michael Fulmer and Jairo Pacheco has kept the Rockies rolling, and at 32, Fulmer is posting some of the best strikeout and walk numbers of his career. His wipeout slider and complementary changeup have helped keep the ball on the ground. He shows noticeable home/road splits in terms of runs allowed, but that’s more a factor of where he’s pitching than how.
Fulmer will hope to go deep into the game, as the Rockies have a hit-and-miss bullpen. Closer Ryan Meisinger has been terrific, and the Pierce Johnson-Dustin Wilson combo in middle relief has been the most reliable path to him. Setup man Chris Devenski has faltered over the past few weeks, but is still a comfortable option.
Hitting has never been the issue for the Rockies, and 2025’s iteration is no different. Nolan Arenado has nearly hit the 40-100 mark and likely will by the end of the month – or even the end of the series. Alec Sanchez and David Dahl have been productive ahead of him, and Juan Marrufo and Trevor Story bring thump behind him. Rookie Ralph Porter was a revelation in May, but has been biblically bad in June and July, dropping down 8th against righties and riding the pine against lefthanders. The Rockies might have the best no. 9 hitter in baseball in Jasrado Chisholm.
Braves
As Nate Capriglione was making his way through the Rays system, the question wasn’t ever really his stuff, it was where he put it. Atlanta found a way to boost that control while staying patient with the clearly talented righty. Last year’s breakout came on the back of a league-low BABIP among starters (.230), but he’s shown even more control this year and limited the home run ball in the process. That’s key for Capriglione in Coors, as outings with homers tend to come with more than one. His fastball, forkball, slider combo will work better than a 12-6 curve might, and he hopes to rebound after a tough few games in July.
Atlanta’s bullpen relies heavily on just five arms, but they’ve been beyond reliable. Lefty Trevor Rogers occupies the closer’s spot and his dominant fastball-slider combo should play well in Coors. As good as Rogers has been, rookie Kevin Bracaccio is the star. He sports an ungodly (or god-like) K/9 of 19.1 and is fourth in the PBA in total strikeouts, despite having thrown only 75 innings. While he’s already toed the rubber in 42 games, he can’t pitch every day. Aside from giving up the odd homer, that appears to be his only weakness.
The Braves are unbelievably hot, heading into the All-Star break riding an 8-game winning streak during which they averaged almost 6.5 runs a game. New addition Zack Collins has taken to his DH duties, providing not just power, but clutch power. Mid-season addition Josh Bell will be on the bench with a hang...er, flu-like symptoms, but projects to be available for pinch-hitting duties if he’s called upon. The Braves rely heavily on the top half of their lineup for runs, which has made Collins and Bell that much more important.
Defense
Atlanta has an edge in zone rating and efficiency, but the Rockies don’t boot many of the balls they get to. Rogelio Mendizabal is serviceable behind the dish, but Steven Williams has been extraordinary for the Braves with the gear on and not bad at the plate, either.
There’s solid outfield firepower on both clubs, with Brandon Boissere’s 6 arm in left for the Rockies the only true weak spot. Look for balls in the gap to go to David Dahl if things are bouncing Colorado’s way.
Colorado’s left side of the infield is extremely solid, and Sanchez and Story will be fine in most situations. Atlanta’s only weak spot is at 1B, but Ronny Mauricio is a marvel at shortstop and can make some unbelievable plays.
Questions for Aaron Dunham
What’s your rotation strategy coming out of the break? You have six guys slotted in there now with Ohtani and Hunter Ruth...will they stick around?
Any plans to add depth to what’s been a phenomenal bullpen? Martin’s return will help, but with Montoya a question mark, are you worried about tiring down the stretch in a deep division?
You’ve dropped Mondesi down in the order, but June and July have been his best months. Are you ready to move him up to put more men on base for Collins and Bell, or worried he’ll regress at the top of the lineup?
Questions for Erick Blasco
You seem to have a lot of options available in stacking your lineup. Do you like the depth Chisholm gives you right before Sanchez, or might he be more useful getting those extra ABs front of Arenado?
Your bullpen can probably handle a seven-game series without much trouble, but with San Francisco ahead of you on a tiebreaker and L.A. lurking, are you going after any quality arms to get you to that point?
Ralph Porter has been brutal in July and not a whole lot better in June. Could he see a stint in AAA to reset his rhythm, or is he key to getting you to the postseason and will have to figure it out in Denver?
ATL: Nate Capriglione (12-4, 3.40)
COL: Michael Fulmer (11-4, 3.82)
Two upstart teams at the top of ultra-competitive divisions square off in what’s arguably the most important series coming out of the All-Star break. Colorado’s strong at home, but the Braves are among the NL’s best on the road. Emerging stalwart Nate Capriglione and veteran rotation leader Michael Fulmer are set to take the most intimidating hill in all the Rocky Mountains: the pitching mound at Coors Field.
Rockies
The hosts have found a way to win at elevation with aggressive offense and pitching that can keep them in the game. The tandem of veteran Michael Fulmer and Jairo Pacheco has kept the Rockies rolling, and at 32, Fulmer is posting some of the best strikeout and walk numbers of his career. His wipeout slider and complementary changeup have helped keep the ball on the ground. He shows noticeable home/road splits in terms of runs allowed, but that’s more a factor of where he’s pitching than how.
Fulmer will hope to go deep into the game, as the Rockies have a hit-and-miss bullpen. Closer Ryan Meisinger has been terrific, and the Pierce Johnson-Dustin Wilson combo in middle relief has been the most reliable path to him. Setup man Chris Devenski has faltered over the past few weeks, but is still a comfortable option.
Hitting has never been the issue for the Rockies, and 2025’s iteration is no different. Nolan Arenado has nearly hit the 40-100 mark and likely will by the end of the month – or even the end of the series. Alec Sanchez and David Dahl have been productive ahead of him, and Juan Marrufo and Trevor Story bring thump behind him. Rookie Ralph Porter was a revelation in May, but has been biblically bad in June and July, dropping down 8th against righties and riding the pine against lefthanders. The Rockies might have the best no. 9 hitter in baseball in Jasrado Chisholm.
Braves
As Nate Capriglione was making his way through the Rays system, the question wasn’t ever really his stuff, it was where he put it. Atlanta found a way to boost that control while staying patient with the clearly talented righty. Last year’s breakout came on the back of a league-low BABIP among starters (.230), but he’s shown even more control this year and limited the home run ball in the process. That’s key for Capriglione in Coors, as outings with homers tend to come with more than one. His fastball, forkball, slider combo will work better than a 12-6 curve might, and he hopes to rebound after a tough few games in July.
Atlanta’s bullpen relies heavily on just five arms, but they’ve been beyond reliable. Lefty Trevor Rogers occupies the closer’s spot and his dominant fastball-slider combo should play well in Coors. As good as Rogers has been, rookie Kevin Bracaccio is the star. He sports an ungodly (or god-like) K/9 of 19.1 and is fourth in the PBA in total strikeouts, despite having thrown only 75 innings. While he’s already toed the rubber in 42 games, he can’t pitch every day. Aside from giving up the odd homer, that appears to be his only weakness.
The Braves are unbelievably hot, heading into the All-Star break riding an 8-game winning streak during which they averaged almost 6.5 runs a game. New addition Zack Collins has taken to his DH duties, providing not just power, but clutch power. Mid-season addition Josh Bell will be on the bench with a hang...er, flu-like symptoms, but projects to be available for pinch-hitting duties if he’s called upon. The Braves rely heavily on the top half of their lineup for runs, which has made Collins and Bell that much more important.
Defense
Atlanta has an edge in zone rating and efficiency, but the Rockies don’t boot many of the balls they get to. Rogelio Mendizabal is serviceable behind the dish, but Steven Williams has been extraordinary for the Braves with the gear on and not bad at the plate, either.
There’s solid outfield firepower on both clubs, with Brandon Boissere’s 6 arm in left for the Rockies the only true weak spot. Look for balls in the gap to go to David Dahl if things are bouncing Colorado’s way.
Colorado’s left side of the infield is extremely solid, and Sanchez and Story will be fine in most situations. Atlanta’s only weak spot is at 1B, but Ronny Mauricio is a marvel at shortstop and can make some unbelievable plays.
Questions for Aaron Dunham
What’s your rotation strategy coming out of the break? You have six guys slotted in there now with Ohtani and Hunter Ruth...will they stick around?
Any plans to add depth to what’s been a phenomenal bullpen? Martin’s return will help, but with Montoya a question mark, are you worried about tiring down the stretch in a deep division?
You’ve dropped Mondesi down in the order, but June and July have been his best months. Are you ready to move him up to put more men on base for Collins and Bell, or worried he’ll regress at the top of the lineup?
Questions for Erick Blasco
You seem to have a lot of options available in stacking your lineup. Do you like the depth Chisholm gives you right before Sanchez, or might he be more useful getting those extra ABs front of Arenado?
Your bullpen can probably handle a seven-game series without much trouble, but with San Francisco ahead of you on a tiebreaker and L.A. lurking, are you going after any quality arms to get you to that point?
Ralph Porter has been brutal in July and not a whole lot better in June. Could he see a stint in AAA to reset his rhythm, or is he key to getting you to the postseason and will have to figure it out in Denver?
However, I do acknowledge that it is a challenge to maintain excellence playing both sides of the ball. I'm essentially wanting Eberle to lean into his pitching, and Ohtani to lean into the hitting, and otherwise will use them as depth/backup pieces.