The whole time going out there I was just trying to pitch

Editors note: After a busy first half of the 2016 Major League Baseball season, Joe Peta is here to take a look at both the good and bad for all 30 teams, along with projecting the second half from a betting perspective. This is the entry for the Atlanta Braves.Records reflect all games played through Sunday. All statistics are through each teams 81st game. Season-to-date pricing adds the implied win probability from the money line of each teams first 81 games and converts it to 162 games.Atlanta BravesVegas projection: 67.5 wins My projection: 69 wins Current record/pace: 31-58 (56-win pace) Season-to-date pricing: 65.1 winsWhats gone right: For all the derision aimed at the Braves during their 9-29 start, here we are at the midseason mark and its possible they arent the worst team in baseball. The Minnesota Twins had fewer wins after 81 games, and in the National League, the Reds only had one more win, but Cincinnati posted a far worse run differential. The Braves even put an end to the collection of some incredible data points. Tom Chambers Jersey . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. Dennis Johnson Jersey . -- Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis was charged Thursday with driving while intoxicated, a day after he was suspended for an NFL substance-abuse policy violation. https://www.cheapthunder.com/ . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. Pete Cross Jersey . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Hersey Hawkins Jersey . Collaros, 25, was solid last season, posting a 5-2 record as the starter while incumbent Ricky Ray was injured. Collaros also started Torontos 23-20 regular-season finale loss to Montreal — Ray didnt dress because the Argos had already clinched first in the East Division — but was one of three quarterbacks to play that day.PITTSBURGH -- Manager Mike Matheny admitted the St. Louis Cardinals losing streak was starting to get to him. "Its something you go to sleep thinking about and you wake up thinking about it and wonder what that sick feeling in your stomach is when you get up," Matheny said. "You realize its because we havent been doing what were supposed to do, what were paid to do, and thats win ballgames." The Cardinals ended their season-worst seven-game skid Thursday night and did so in emphatic fashion, averting a five-game sweep by routing the Pirates 13-0 in a matchup between the NLs top two teams. St. Louis began the series with a 2 1/2-game lead in the NL Central, but left with the Pirates ahead by 1 1/2 games. The Cardinals avoided their first sweep in a set of at least five games since 1916, when the New York Giants took all six games. Pittsburgh had won the previous four games at PNC Park by a combined score of 36-10. "We had kept the cat in the bag for four games," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "Tonight, we let it out." Joe Kelly (2-3) pitched six scoreless innings and had two hits. Tony Cruz added three hits, including a two-run double during an eight-run seventh inning. Kelly allowed three hits while walking four and striking out four. Seth Maness, Michael Blazek and Edward Mujica pitched one inning each to complete the five-hitter. "It felt good," Kelly said. "The whole time going out there I was just trying to pitch as best as I could. I just wanted to compete my butt off and try as hard as I could to help us get that win." After the Cardinals failed to acquire a replacement for injured All-Star catcher Yadier Molina prior to Wednesdays non-waiver trading deadline, Cruz figures to get the majorityy of starts behind the plate.dddddddddddd. He had started just 11 games this season until Molina went on the disabled list Wednesday with a sprained right knee. Carlos Beltran, Allen Craig, Matt Holliday and David Freese also had two of St. Louis 17 hits. Craig came into the game in a 1-for-27 slump, and he had a two-run double in the seventh. Charlie Morton (3-3) struggled against the Cardinals again, giving up five runs and 10 hits in six innings. He is 2-8 in his career against St. Louis. "I made some bad pitches, some pitches that I could executed better and other that I wasnt smart about," Morton said. "Im not saying they wouldnt have scored any runs, but I could gone about it better." Morton threw a wild pitch that made it 1-0 in the second. St. Louis scored three times in the fourth as Jon Jay was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Cruz grounded into a double play and Pete Kozma had an RBI single. Beltran doubled in a run in the sixth before the Cardinals broke the game open an inning later. "Today was a good sign for our team," Craig said. "There was no panic. We brought a lot of energy. You hate to go into lulls like we did because weve played so well all season long but I think this game should get us going again." NOTES: CF Starling Marte had two of Pittsburghs five hits. He has a hit in all 12 career games against the Cardinals. ... Pittsburgh C Russell Martin sat out the game with a sore left knee. ... St. Louis opens a three-game series Friday night at Cincinnati with RHP Shelby Miller (10-7, 2.79) facing RHP Bronson Arroyo (9-8, 3.26). ... RHP Gerrit Cole (5-4, 3.56) will pitch for Pittsburgh on Friday night in the first game of a three-game series against Colorados Jhoulys Chacin (9-5, 3.54). ' ' '