Major League Baseball

Three Cuts: Braves bounce Marlins; Kimbrel makes history

Published May. 31, 2014 8:10 p.m. ET

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On Saturday, Kimbrel earned his 154th career save for the Braves (30-25), tying John Smoltz's all-time franchise mark.

Kimbrel has been an elite-level reliever for the Braves since breaking into the majors on May 7, 2010 (age 21), posting the following career numbers: 1.42 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 154 saves.

The three-time All-Star (2011-13) and 2011 National League Rookie of the Year is on his way to another stellar campaign in 2014, tallying a 1.82 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 37/9 K-BB rate and converting on 15-of-17 save chances.

A viable candidate for the Hall of Fame in 2015, Smoltz (1998-2009) amassed 213 wins and 3,084 strikeouts over 21 MLB seasons. But as a means of recuperating from major surgeries (involving his throwing arm/shoulder), Smoltz moved to the bullpen and served as the Braves' closer from 2001-04.

Smoltz is the only pitcher in major league history to collect 200 victories and 150 saves.

The Braves righty was on fire to open the season -- his first-ever campaign as a National Leaguer -- going 4-0 with a 1.99 ERA and 43/9 K-BB rate, through six starts.

His next three outings, however, were the stuff of misery, with Santana surrendering 16 earned runs and often getting blown up on his final inning of work, per start.

Fast forward to Saturday: Santana (5-2) was in bend-but-don't-break mode, allowing seven hits and three runs over six innings, the result of pitching with a comfortable lead throughout the day.

There were some worries in the 6th, as the Marlins (28-27) trimmed their five-run deficit to three with Santana on the hill.

All told, though, there were few signs of a calamitous inning (or outing), thanks to three double plays from the Braves' defense and one caught stealing in the 2nd -- with Gerald Laird nailing Marcell Ozuna at second base.

Heading into Saturday, Freeman had a .346 seasonal batting average (with nine homers) against every MLB team -- excluding Miami.

On the flip side, Freeman had been in an 0-for-28 funk against the Marlins to start the year, belying his monster numbers vs. Miami in 2013: Three homers, 11 RBI, 16 runs, a .379 batting average (22 for 58), .486 on-base percentage and 1.159 OPS.

Well, Freeman experienced a classic market correction on Saturday, ripping a two-run RBI double off Jacob Turner in the third inning, scoring Laird, Jason Heyward and pushing Atlanta's lead to 2-0.

A few minutes later, Freeman scored the Braves' third run of the game -- thanks to an infield single (Justin Upton) and subsequent throwing error from Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.

Go ahead and take a mental or physical snapshot of Saturday's box score. By my count, it marked the first time this season that all eight Braves starters -- minus the pitcher slot, of course -- recorded at least one hit in the same game.

Laird (one RBI, three runs), Tommy La Stella (one run, one RBI) and B.J. Upton (one RBI) led the Atlanta hit parade (12 total) against Miami, collecting two hits apiece.

For good measure, the rookie La Stella (two multiple-hit outings this week) earned his first major league steal.

Seriously, what's the logic in scheduling the Braves for a two-game home stand against the Mariners (Tuesday/Wednesday) -- with a day off on both ends (Monday/Thursday) -- before sending 'em off on a West Coast swing of six outings (Arizona/Colorado)?

Obviously, the MLB super-computer has to account for a lot of things when crafting uniquely balanced schedules for all 30 clubs -- like blackout dates for concerts, trade shows, other sporting events, etc. for the stadiums -- meaning that quirks are inevitable.

However, if you're a travel-weary professional athlete, what's the point of unpacking and settling back into your Georgia home, condo or apartment ... when the road trips to Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Phoenix and Denver are all the same, time-wise?

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