Mets series

After a 3-6 road trip, it was nice to see the Mets on the other side of the field.  The Braves apparently agreed, as they took two of three in the series.

Unfortunately, it looks as though they may have lost Kris Medlen in the finale, possibly for a full year.  He'll be getting an MRI, but "ulnar collateral ligament injury" is not something you want to hear about one of your pitchers.

The logical thing to do, assuming that Medlen is going to be out for a while (which seems certain, even if it's just a strain), would be to put Kenshin Kawakami back into the rotation.  Despite his awful W-L record, he hasn't pitched that badly.  He's not been that good, admittedly, but if you're talking about a fifth starter, he seems fine.  An expensive fifth starter, to be sure, but right now, the Braves are paying him to sit in the bullpen and not pitch, which is insane.  If nothing else, he should be seeing time in blowouts and extra-innings games.

However, Dave O'Brien thinks that the Braves will use Mike Minor instead.  I don't know that I like that.  Minor's not on the 40 man roster.  The Braves do have an opening, having lost Chris Resop to the Pirates today.  But I'd rather that spot be used by Freddie Freeman, since the Braves have a giant sucking wound at first base right now.

Injuries are going to make the difference in the NL East this year.  The Phillies have more injuries than the Braves so far, but they're a better club as well.  We'll see how the Braves patch things together.