Braves Hit The Road Again

The Atlanta Braves hit the road again for a 10-game, 3-city road trip starting on Monday in Cincinnati. They'll play 3 in Cincinnati, 4 in San Francisco and 3 in Arizona. The Braves are 9-7 on the road this season.

The Braves welcome back 6-time All-Star catcher Brian McCann on Monday. McCann had Labrum surgery on his right shoulder last October. In 7 rehab games spread across Class-A Rome and Triple-A Gwinnett, McCann went 8-for-23 with a double, 4 homeruns and 9 RBIs. McCann's got great numbers in Cincinnati at Great American Ball Park, having hit .333 in his career there with 10 homeruns. Against Monday's starter Bronson Arroyo, McCann is 9-for-18 with 4 homeruns.

Getting McCann back will be huge for a Braves team that has struggled in recent weeks after starting the season 12-1. The Braves ended an up and down 6-game home stand by going 3-3 including Sunday's 9-4 victory over the New York Mets. The Braves have had their share of struggles against the Cincinnati Reds since 2007, going just 14-25 and just 6-17 at Great American Ball Park.

The Braves are just 6-11 in their last 17 games after starting the season 12-1. But despite their struggles they are still in 1st place in the NL East thanks in large part to the struggles of their biggest challenger, the Washington Nationals.

Here are the Braves next 10 games.

GAME 1 - MONDAY - MAY 6TH - @ REDS - 7:10 PM - SPSO, ESPN

Paul Maholm (3-3, 3.08)  vs. Bronson Arroyo (2-3, 3.95)

GAME 2 - TUESDAY - MAY 7TH - @ REDS - 7:10 PM - SPSO, MLBN

Kris Medlen (1-4, 3.38) vs. Homer Bailey (1-3, 3.38)

GAME 3 - WEDNESDAY - MAY 8TH - @ REDS - 12:35 PM - SPSO, MLBN

Mike Minor (3-2, 3.26) vs. Mike Leake (2-1, 4.15)

GAME 1 - THURSDAY - MAY 9TH - @ GIANTS - 10:15 PM - FSS, MLBN

Julio Teheran (1-0, 5.08) vs. Ryan Vogelsong (1-2, 7.20)

GAME 2 - FRIDAY - MAY 10TH - @ GIANTS - 10:15 PM - FSS

Tim Hudson (4-1, 3.83) vs. Matt Cain (1-2, 5.57)

GAME 3 - SATURDAY - MAY 11TH - @ GIANTS - 4:05 PM - FSS, MLBN

Paul Maholm (4-3, 3.09) vs. Madison Bumgarner (3-1, 2.31) 

GAME 4 - SUNDAY - MAY 12TH - @ GIANTS - 4:05 PM - FSS

Kris Medlen (1-4, 3.25) vs. Tim Lincecum (2-2, 4.75)

GAME 1 - MONDAY - MAY 13TH - @ DIAMONDBACKS - 9:40 PM - SPSO

Mike Minor (4-2, 2.96) vs. Wade Miley (3-1, 2.93)

GAME 2 - TUESDAY - MAY 14TH - @ DIAMONDBACKS - 9:40 PM - SPSO

Julio Teheran (1-0, 5.08) vs. Patrick Corbin (4-0, 1.80)

GAME 3 - WEDNESDAY - MAY 15TH - @ DIAMONDBACKS - 3:40 PM - SPSO

Tim Hudson (4-1, 3.83) vs. Ian Kennedy (1-3, 5.19)

Atlanta Braves Trade Rumors

I visit http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/ to find all the trade rumors I can involving the Braves. Some trade rumors are completely bogus and some are more believable. The trick is to find out which ones to believe and which ones to ignore. Here are some trade rumors involving the Braves.

• The Braves apparently won't give up Yunel Escobar or Jarrod Saltalamacchia to get Mark Teixeira. Neither of 'em. No doubt John Schuerholz will spend the next ten days trying to get Jon Daniels to settle for less.


• Beyond the Cubs, Graziano lists the Braves, Dodgers, and Diamondbacks as teams interested in pitcher Zack Greinke. If the initial asking price for Octavio Dotel was as high as reported, I can't imagine what Dayton Moore would want for Greinke.


• The Braves are trying to deal for southpaw reliever C.J. Wilson of the Rangers. The 26 year-old has an undeserved 2.81 ERA right now. His control has been worse this year, so he'd have to remain unhittable to be effective.


• Zack Greinke is admittedly a long shot to be traded, but that doesn't mean teams aren't asking all the time. The Braves connection is obvious. Stark says John Schuerholz is getting very aggressive and creative trying to improve his team. Two prospects on the block are Elvis Andrus and Dan Smith.