Braves at Blue Jays, 30 April-2 May

Why, it's the first place Atlanta Braves!

First place? They're 12-13. What gives? Three teams tied for first with records below .500?

The Braves have a share of the lead because they've played the Cubs seven times, winning five of them. They've gone 5-8 against their division opponents. The Mets have gone 7-4 within the NL East. But they're 2-6 outside the division. And the Phillies... well, they just sputter along.

The pitching gets tougher and tougher as the weekend proceeds. Drew Smyly is a league average innings eater (if he can stay healthy long enough to actually eat some innings.) But Charlie Morton has been a very fine starter, even as he slips into his dotage (in baseball terms, you understand.) And Ian Anderson. Geez. I wish he'd stuck to playing the flute on one leg. Since arriving in the majors last August, Anderson's gone 5-2, 2.20 with 72 Ks in 61.1 IP.  Opponents are batting .183/.274/.263 against him. The Jays will be facing him on his 23rd birthday.

You know about Freddie the Freeman, last year's MVP. You know about Ronald Acuna, who's playing like he wants to be this year's MVP. Marcell Ozuna haven't hit a lick so far, but Guillermo Heredia and Austin Riley are doing their best to pick up the slack. The Jays have one major league starter available for the three games, and then Montoyo starts improvising.

Teoscar Hernandez is expected to be activated and play right field tonight. George Springer will continue as the DH for now.

Should be fun!

Fri 30 Apr - Smyly (0-1, 7.20) vs Ray (0-1, 2.81)

Sat 1 May - Morton (2-1, 4.76) vs Some Guys

Sun 2 May - Anderson (2-0, 2.48) vs More Guys