The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Medlen racking up strikeouts
Starting pitcher has friendly rivalry with closer.
It’s hard to imagine that Kris Medlen, who struck out 13 batters in seven innings Friday against the Nationals, actually complained about his lack of strikeouts earlier this season.
Medlen needed 24 ⅔ innings to accumulate his first 13 strikeouts while pitching out of the bullpen.
He was frustrated with a relative inability to put away hitters, blaming a two-seam fastball that was running back over the plate, especially to right-handers. But Medlen said as a starter he can establish other pitches.
“Out of the bullpen you have to establish whatever works for that day,” Medlen said. “As a starter you have a chance to make more adjustments.”
Since the All-Star break, Medlen has thrown more four-seam fastballs.
“It gives guys a different look,” said Medlen who got Roger Bernadina to swing under such a pitch in the second inning. “I’ve been using it to both sides. It’s definitely helped me out.”
Medlen, who struck out 12 Sept. 3 against the Rockies, became the first Braves pitcher since 1900 to have two games of 12 or more strikeouts in the same month, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Now Medlen is in a friendly rivalry with closer Craig Kimbrel to see who can finish with more strikeouts. Medlen moved ahead of Kimbrel, with 102 on the season to Kimbrel’s 101, after Kimbrel struck out the side Friday on 10 pitches.
“I heard he was a little jealous in the bullpen room,” Medlen said.
That came from Eric O’Flaherty, who had kidded Kimbrel during Friday’s game that he must be jealous after Kimbrel pointed out how many strikeouts Medlen was piling up.
“He pitched an amazing game; it was a lot of fun to watch,” said Kimbrel, who couldn’t resist a little jab, though. “He had to become a starter to start doing that.” to-day.
McCann caught for two innings and grounded out in his only at-bat before being replaced by David Ross in the top of the third inning.
“I tweaked it on the road trip a little bit, but it didn’t affect me to do anything,” McCann said. “Then today I was having a really hard time squatting.”
McCann said he would receive treatment Sunday and see where he is. He has also battled shoulder problems this season, receiving two cortisone shots for a cyst and frayed labrum. dad he was somebody I wanted to be like,” Graham said. “To be playing in the organization he’s in, and I get a chance to see him and meet him, it’s pretty awesome.”
Graham, a 2011 fourthround pick by the Braves, was a closer at Santa Clara University. He still has the dominant fastball associated with that job — his four-seamer is clocked at 95-98 mph — but he has used this season to develop his offspeed pitches as well.
Graham went 12-2 with a 2.80 ERA in 26 starts this season for Single-A Lynchburg and Double-A Mississippi. He struck out 110 and walked only 34 in 148 innings combined.
“[In Double-A] I really had to start focusing on stuff that I wasn’t the most comfortable working on,” Graham said. “My change-up wasn’t coming along, but in Double-A, I was going to need to throw it.”
For outfielder Todd Cunningham, the Braves’ organizational player of the year, this season was a chance to rebound after a strained elbow ligament cost him six weeks of the 2011 season.
The second-round pick from Jacksonville State in 2010 hit .309 (144-for466) in 120 games for Mississippi, with 23 doubles, six triples, three home runs, 51 RBIs and 24 steals.
Cunningham can play all three outfield positions but spent most of this season playing center field. He said he took some confidence playing in the Arizona Fall League, especially after seeing Surprise, Ariz., teammates such as Mike Olt rise to the majors this season with the Rangers.