6'3" 200lb RHP Randall Delgado
*Delgado was Atlanta's 3rd-best prospect, according to Baseball America, in 2011.
*This will be Delgado's 8th career start in the majors, having gone 1-1 in 2011, with 35IP, 29H/11ER, 18K:14BB, 5HR.
*His ERA was 2.83 in 2011, but his FIP was 5.14 and xFIP was 4.97, benefiting from a .220 BABIP.
*Delgado throws a fastball 66.3% of the time, averaging 92.4mph, with a changeup (22.3% - 82.8mph) and curve (11.3% - 79.2mph) mixed in.
*He gets more fly balls (42%) than grounders (38.4%).
*Like many an Astro, Delgado skipped Triple-A. He was twice promoted from Double-A to spot start for Tommy Hanson.
*Delgado hasn't faced anybody on the Astros.
*From John Sickels (August 2011):
If I were the Braves, I'd try to get him 20 starts in Triple-A next year before pushing him into extensive major league action. Although he needs more polish right now, Delgado's stuff is good enough for him to be a number two or strong number three starter in the medium and long runs, provided he stays healthy and makes further progress with his command.
*For his career, Wandy is 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA/1.28 WHIP against Atlanta, allowing 55H/24ER, 36K:20BB in 61IP. The Braves, collectively, have hit .241/.318/.373 off Wandy - the 3rd lowest OPS-against for a team to play 10+ games (Cardinals, and Dodgers are next).
*Among Braves with 10+ PAs against Wandy, Jack Wilson has been the most successful, hitting .308/.357/.500 with a homer. Brian McCann and pitcher Livan Hernandez are the only other Braves to take Wandy deep.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
