The Atlanta Braves were off on Monday and will get back into action tonight with the opener of a brief two-game interleague series in Kansas City against the Royals. Julio Teheran will serve as the starting pitcher for Atlanta, while Danny Duffy will head to the mound for Kansas City. First pitch is slated for 8:15 pm. The game will be broadcast on WLAQ 1410 AM and 96.9 FM. Air time is 7 pm from the Atlanta Braves Radio Network.
Prior to their off day, the Braves wrapped up their final homestand of the ’19 regular season by taking two out of three from the San Francisco Giants over the weekend at SunTrust Park. The Braves clinched their second consecutive National League East title with a 6-0 win in the opener on Friday night, and it was party time once again in Atlanta. Braves manager Brian Snitker indicated to Joe Simpson that it was indeed a special occasion.
Veteran catcher Brian McCann told Simpson that clinching the NL East title is a pretty special way to return to Atlanta; he rejoined the Braves this season after having played the previous six seasons in Houston and New York.
McCann contributed a two-run homer to help secure another division title for Atlanta on Friday night. Many Rome fans will remember his contributions to the Rome Braves’ victory in the South Atlantic League Championship during their inaugural season in 2003.
Rome native Charlie Culberson has pledged his support of the Braves during the rest of the regular season and into the postseason, even though injury has him sidelined. He says he hopes for a few more ‘champagne showers’ beyond this past Friday night.
Speaking of sidelined players, Freddie Freeman is not with the Braves for the series in Kansas City as he is currently healing from a bone spur in his right elbow. He will be back with the team this weekend for their regular season-ending series in New York against the Mets.