In what was supposed to be the first meeting between two Major League Baseball rookie phenoms.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg reached another first milestone as he was scratched from what was supposed to be his first time facing Atlanta Braves rookie sensation Jason Heyward. 

Though Strasburg faced the Braves earlier in the season, it was during the time that J-Hey was sidelined with an injured thumb.  Once again, this battle between these two surging stars will have to wait.

Despite injuries and scratched starts, Heyward and Strasburg are easily two of the biggest rookie stars in MLB and, barring season-ending injuries, seem among the most likely candidates to claim the National League Rookie of the Year. 

As the season began, Heyward was widely considered the No. 1 MLB prospect with Strasburg sitting in the No. 2 position.  With expectations and pressure high, Heyward delivered in his first major-league at bat with a three run home run off of Carlos Zambrano on opening day in front of a delighted Turner Field crowd.  In the history of the Braves organization, Heyward is the fifth to begin his career with a home run while appearing at the plate for the first time. 

Since then, Heyward has been named the Rookie of the Month in both April and May of this season.  In June, Heyward was placed on the disabled list due to a thumb injury.  Although he was selected to start the All-Star Game he did not play due to the injury. 

Thus far, Heyward boasts a .276 batting average through 349 plate appearances.  With 81 hits on the season, Heyward is currently at 11 home runs and 48 RBI’s. 

Strasburg was hyped like no other prospect in the history of Major League Baseball and was selected first overall in the 2009 draft.  Moments before the deadline to sign with the Nationals, Strasburg set a record with a contract valued at $15.1 million. 

The former San Diego State University star began his MLB career against the Pittsburgh Pirates in front of a sold out Nationals Park on June 8, 2010.  Living up to the hype, Strasburg did not disappoint with 14 strikeouts across seven innings and no walks.  Amazingly, the last seven batters in his rookie start were fanned.  The debut performance set a team record for strikeouts by a starter.

Strasburg currently boasts a 2.32 ERA with a 5-2 record across nine starts.  Thus far on the season, Strasburg has 75 strikeouts and has not had a start where he did not strikeout at least five batters. 

Strasburg was not selected for the All-Star Game as Phillies Coach Charlie Manuel indicated he needed to be “broken in” prior to becoming an All-Star.  In all fairness, the pitchers Manuel selected had played the entire first-half of the MLB season.  Strasburg later acknowledged that he felt “undeserving” of a selection given his amount of starts.

The Nationals have placed a 160-inning limit on Strasburg.  Currently, Strasburg is at 54.1 innings for the season.  Tests that have been conducted on the arm of the rookie phenom show inflammation in the right shoulder but no structural damage has been revealed.  Assuming Strasburg returns to the mound as normal it would appear that the battle between the two rookies might go until the end of the season. 

And with the Braves and Nationals meeting up in three more series before the end of the regular season, we might get to see the Heyward-Strasburg battle after all.

Used with permission of the author.

Cade Caldwell is an Atlanta-based sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

Here’s an Atlanta Braves update and Nats series preview. The Braves are just 3-3 over their past six games now, even though they could easily be 6-0.

Billy Wagner has blown two saves in the past two series and Sunday we were given another example of why Jesse Chavez doesn’t belong in the major leagues.

On the bright side, the Braves did have a big comeback win Saturday and Jason Heyward has been terrific since coming off the DL.

I know it’s been a day since the last loss, but I’m still in a bad mood about it, so instead of discussing things further I will just move onto the upcoming series against the Nationals.

Pitching Matchups: Atlanta Braves @ Washington Nationals

7/27: Tommy Hanson (8-6, 4.12) @ Stephen Strasburg (5-2, 2.32)

7/28: Tim Hudson (10-5, 2.47) @ Livan Hernandez (7-6, 3.12)

7/29: Derek Lowe (10-8, 4.48) @ Craig Stammen (2-4, 5.50)

Series Outlook

It’s safe to say that everyone is looking forward to the first game of this series, as baseball’s top prospect, Jason Heyward (that’s right everyone, he was BA’s top prospect) will take on its’ second ranked prospect (Stephen Strasburg).

Heyward has raked since coming off the DL, hitting .436 with an OPS over 1.000. Strasburg has already lost to Atlanta once this year, but it will be interesting to see how this game plays out, as it is the first time in his pro career that he is facing the same team for a second time.

I think the first game will come down to Tommy Hanson, who has been inconsistent so far in 2010. However, Hanson has been great in the month of July (2.66 ERA) and has pitched well against the Nationals in the past.

Just like last time, I think the Braves will beat the Nationals even with Strasburg on the hill.

To me, the second matchup is almost as interesting as the first. While Strasburg and Hanson both have electric stuff, Hudson and Hernandez are their polar opposites. Neither of them rely on overpowering strikeout pitches, but both have been terrific in 2010.

Overall, I think Hudson is the better pitcher, and he will do his thing, getting the Nats to pound the ball into the ground en route to a Braves win.

The Braves would look to have a favorable matchup in game three, but I just can’t find it in me to pick this team to sweep a series on the road right now. Derek Lowe has been consistently mediocre lately, and I don’t think the Braves will be able to give him another cheap win. 

Used with permission of the author.

 Along with contributing to Sports Climax, Brett Kettyle is the Atlanta Braves Community Leader on Bleacher Report and maintains a Braves column for MTR Media. Follow Brett on Twitter.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax, LLC

CHICAGO – Phones may be ringing across Chicago after the Chicago Cubs Opening Day 16-5 loss in Atlanta yesterday. “The Cubs are horrible.” “Zambrano is awful.” “We were robbed by that call — we need replay.”Well, two out of three of those comments might be correct and some may say all three are correct.

The Cubs scored three runs on a Marlon Byrd home run in the top of the first, but Zambrano was not on his game. The Cubs No.1 starter gave up six runs in the bottom of the first, three on a three-run home run by rookie Jason Heyward in his first at bat.

In all, Zambrano was rocked for a total of eight runs before being yanked in the second inning. It was the earliest exit for Zambrano in his career. While his pitching was far from perfect, there were a couple of times when defense was lacking as well.

Z didn’t handle the pressure of an Opening Day start on the road and has toned down his fiery temper, at least in front of the cameras. Regardless, the fans cannot point the finger only at Z. The Cubs as a team totally fell apart in the 6th inning after a blown call by umpire Marvin Hudson on a Byrd fly to center was called out.

Replays showed the call by Hudson incorrect, supplying more ammo for those who are calling for instant replays to have a greater role in Major League Baseball.

“Replays support the #cubs in bad call in 6th on what should’ve been a hit for Marlon Byrd. Ramirez was doubled off,” Tweeted Cubs MLB beat writer Carrie Muskat.

“Absolute BS. Yet another reason replay MUST be adopted. #Cubs got screwed,” Tweeted Bleedcubbieblue.

Even Lou Piniella wasn’t on his game today. He did come out to challenge that call in the sixth, as he should have, but the fiery Lou that Cubs fans expected never materialized — even after the umpires had a meeting and refused to overturn the original call.

If this is a glimpse of things to come for the season, it will be a long season. The Cubs need to get over this game and Lou needs to show he’s really in it. If the skipper of the team loses his fire, it may trickle down the ranks and this season will be another very long one for Cubs fans.

Re-printed with permission of the author.

Copyright ©2010 Sports Climax™

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Jason Heyward who is considered to be the No. 1 prospect in Major League Baseball for the 2010 season is making a big impression in the Atlanta Braves organization as well several vehicles parked in and around the Kissimmee stadium they call home during spring training.

During a recent batting practice, Heyward damaged a Coca-Cola delivery truck then later sent another ball out of the park that smashed the sunroof of Assistant GM Bruce Mannos’ car. That ball is said to have caused $3,400 dollars damage to the vehicle but Manno handled it well saying “If I knew what happened to the ball, I would have Jason sign it.”

Heyward who stands 6’5″ and weighs a stout 245 pounds was selected 14th overall by the Braves in the 2007 draft and the then 17-year-old signed a reported $1.7 million dollar deal.

After being assigned to the Gulf Coast and Appalachian minor league system he hit a combined .302 with one home run and 6 RBI’S in 12 games. In 2008 he had a strong showing and over the course of 127 games he hit .316 with 11 HR’S 52 RBI’S scored 91 runs and even stole 15 bases.

This spring training, Heyward’s power is drawing a lot of attention and gives him a shot at earning the starting spot in right field. ” I just try to hit the ball hard, I’ve got a big frame and I guess that’s what does it.” said Heyward.

Like many others in the Braves’ clubhouse, teammate Eric Hinske is impressed. “[Heyward] is all he’s made up to be. He has got a unique sound when the ball comes off his bat, and he can hit the ball really far”.

Braves manager Bobby Cox who is in his final season as the skipper for the Braves has high hopes that he will have Heyward on the 40 man roster in this his last season.

Heyward started last season at single A Myrtle Beach team but ended at AAA Gwinnett playing in 99 games hitting .323with 17 HRs, 63 RBIs and 69 runs scored.

Expected to be in the line-up sometime this season, local Braves fans may want to update their car insurance when Heyward brings his large frame and big swing to Atlanta.