Braves, first-round pick Hursh make it official

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:12:39 EDT

After signing with the Braves for $1.7 million on Wednesday, Jason Hursh, the 31st overall selection in the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, toured the clubhouse and watched batting practice before that night's game against the Mets.

Free passes prompt protective measure for Freeman

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:12:37 EDT

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez's decision to move Freddie Freeman up to the third spot in his batting order on Wednesday was influenced by the approach the Mets took facing him Tuesday.

Braves aiming to have Wood in 'pen this weekend

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:12:34 EDT

Alex Wood will be available to pitch out of Atlanta's bullpen at some point during this upcoming weekend's series against the Brewers.

Braves can't solve Harvey, Wheeler in doubleheader

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:34:52 EDT

After coming up short in their bid to rally late against Matt Harvey in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader at Turner Field, the Braves were unable to solve Zack Wheeler as he enjoyed a successful Major League debut and helped the Mets complete a sweep with a 6-1 win in the nightcap.

Wood battles elements in first big league start

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:08:02 EDT

This was not the ideal situation for Alex Wood to make his first Major League start. The highly regarded Braves pitching prospect had not thrown more than 35 pitches in any of the six relief appearances he had made since joining Atlanta's bullpen on May 30. The left-hander struggled with his command and lasted just three innings in a 4-3 loss to the Mets.

Braves' late rally falls short in twin-bill opener

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:41:54 EDT

Matt Harvey was cruising, as he recorded a career-high 13 strikeouts, and did not allow a hit through the first six innings in the opener of Tuesday's day-night twin bill at Turner Field. But the Braves chased him during a three-run eighth inning that forced the Mets to sweat out a 4-3 victory.

Day later, Braves dealing with delay aftereffects

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:25:18 EDT

There were some tired eyes in Atlanta's clubhouse on Tuesday morning. Even before Freddie Freeman ended Monday night's 2-1 win over the Mets with a walk-off home run at 1:22 a.m. ET, the Braves were already bracing themselves for a quick night's sleep before Tuesday's day-night doubleheader.

Oblique strain sends Gattis to 15-day DL

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:42:54 EDT

The Braves placed Evan Gattis on the 15-day disabled list on Tuesday morning with a right oblique strain. Infielder Tyler Pastornicky was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill Gattis' roster spot.

Freeman ends Gee's shutout bid with walk-off blast

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:53:23 EDT

Dillon Gee was bidding for his first career shutout before Freddie Freeman drilled a two-run ninth-inning home run that gave the Braves a 2-1 walk-off win over the Mets on Monday at Turner Field.

Minor setback has Beachy frustrated, but focused

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:05:15 EDT

Members of the Braves' medical staff praised Brandon Beachy for the discipline and dedication he showed after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. His hard work was credited to the fact that he went nearly a full year without experiencing any of the expected setbacks. But in a cruel twist of fate, the minor setback came eight days before the one-year anniversary of his surgery.

Wood to be clean shaven for first MLB start

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:05:13 EDT

Alex Wood appeared calm on the eve of his first Major League start, which will be in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mets. With the benefit of six relief appearances in the Majors already under his belt, Wood has been able to adjust to the bright lights at a comfortable pace.

Braves' Hudson withstanding the test of time

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:44:54 EDT

Pitcher Tim Hudson, at the age of 37, has had a long career in a game that is often punctuated by one-hit wonders, would-be stars that fizzled before they dazzled. Hudson didn't fizzle. Why?

Teheran turns in strong outing to beat Giants

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:53:52 EDT

Julio Teheran escaped two bases-loaded threats unscathed and Freddie Freeman highlighted his three-hit night against Tim Lincecum with a first-inning single that proved decisive for the Braves during Sunday night's 3-0 win over the Giants at Turner Field.

Upton family throws out first pitches for Braves

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:40:07 EDT

Braves outfielders B.J. and Justin Upton were joined by their father, Manny "Bossman" Upton, and B.J.'s 3-year-old son, Riley, as the four took the field to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Sunday night's Father's Day game against San Francisco.

Wood to start in doubleheader vs. Mets

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:11:26 EDT

Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez confirmed Alex Wood will make his first Major League start during the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mets at Turner Field. Gonzalez made the announcement after Sunday night's 3-0 win over the Giants.

McCann showing impressive arm after surgery

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:08:37 EDT

There were certainly some questions about the arm strength Brian McCann would be able to generate coming off a major shoulder surgery. But as opponents have been successful with just 57 percent of their stolen-base attempts against him this year, the six-time All-Star catcher has exceeded expectations from the defensive end.

Braves eyeing consecutive starts for Gattis

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:06:51 EDT

The Braves' upcoming doubleheader with the Mets this week will offer Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez the increasingly rare opportunity to arrange back-to-back starts for Evan Gattis.

J. Upton falls from top spot in NL outfield voting

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 20:00:25 EDT

Justin Upton dropped from first to second among NL outfielders in the All-Star voting, but he is still on pace to make his first start in the Midsummer Classic.

B.J.'s two homers, Freeman's walk-off hit lift Braves

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 21:00:47 EDT

B.J. Upton went deep for his seventh and eighth home runs of the year, and the Braves put together a two-run, ninth-inning rally capped by Freddie Freeman's walk-off single with the bases loaded to draw even in their weekend series vs. the Giants with a 6-5 win Saturday afternoon at Turner Field.

Potential starter Wood has brush with adversity

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:48:55 EDT

An off-day Thursday doomed Braves reliever Alex Wood to his most challenging appearance as a Major Leaguer in the seventh inning of Friday's 6-0 loss to the Giants. But despite his rocky outing, Wood may have moved closer to returning to his natural role as a starter.

No timetable for Beachy after delayed return

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 16:42:42 EDT

That Brandon Beachy suffered a minor setback in his recovery from Tommy John surgery was far from surprising. It was the timing of that setback -- less than a week before Beachy was set to return to the rotation -- that frustrated the Braves right-hander.

Kids have fun at Pitch, Hit and Run competition

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:26:49 EDT

From every corner of Braves Country -- six different states in all -- 23 boys and girls ages 7-14 came to Turner Field on Saturday morning to show off their baseball fundamentals in the same facilities as their big league idols in the Pitch, Hit and Run Atlanta championship sponsored by Scotts.

Braves vexed by Giants' pitching, extra-base hits

Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:04:56 EDT

Starter Kris Medlen and the rest of the Braves pitching staff fell victim to a barrage of doubles, and Atlanta hitters struck out 12 times as the Braves stumbled to a 6-0 loss in their series opener against the Giants on Friday night at Turner Field.

Tender elbow pushes back Beachy's return

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:52:05 EDT

Brandon Beachy's much-anticipated return from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery will have to wait past Tuesday. The Braves scratched the right-hander from his season debut in next week's doubleheader against the Mets after Beachy felt more tenderness than usual after a three-inning start for Triple-A Gwinnett at Rochester on Thursday.

Varvaro gets a taste of one-out relief work

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 19:31:18 EDT

Since giving up the game-winning run in the 10th inning last Friday, Braves righty Anthony Varvaro has made a pair of entrances in the middle of an inning and closed out the frame without incident, the most recent member of the Atlanta bullpen to undergo a minor role change and adjust on the fly.

'Bossman' set the tone early on for Uptons

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:48:24 EDT

B.J. and Justin Upton not only learned the game of baseball from their father, Manny, the man better known by family and friends as "Bossman" taught the future Atlanta Braves stars how to carry themselves on and off the field.

Braves battle, but drop finale of tough road trip

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:48:06 EDT

After the Padres completed a three-game sweep of the Braves with Wednesday afternoon's 5-3 win, Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez remained relatively upbeat. Instead of focusing on the three-run first inning Paul Maholm endured in the loss, he focused on the bad luck his team encountered during the three-game series.

Braves yet to reveal who will lose rotation spot

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:55:40 EDT

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick would have approved of the simple answers Braves general manager Frank Wren provided on Wednesday in response to questions about his team's rotation plans once Brandon Beachy returns next week.

B.J. Upton turning it around after slow start

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 15:55:38 EDT

B.J. Upton has started to show some signs of encouragement at the plate. But after seeing two long fly balls caught at the outfield wall during this week's series at Petco Park, the slender Braves outfielder playfully said it might be time to add some weight.

Hudson's winless streak extends to seven

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 02:35:45 EDT

After allowing three runs through three innings, Tim Hudson recovered to deliver 7 1/3 strong innings. However, Andrew Cashner was better for the Padres, who earned a 3-2 victory Tuesday at Petco Park.