Glavine, Braves Prepare For Reds

Tom Glavine of the Atlanta Braves will have the numbers in his favor when he pitches Tuesday night in the opening game of the NL Championship Series against the Cincinnati Reds.

Glavine will be opposed by Pete Schourek in a battle of left-handers at Riverfront Stadium in the first game of the best-of-7 series.

Glavine, 16-7 with a 3.08 ERA this season, has dominated the Reds in their ballpark during his career, losing only once in 14 decisions. Overall, he has an 18-6 record against Cincinnati.

“We’ve played well there as a team and I’ve certainly done well there as an individual,” Glavine said. “But, again, just like anything, when the postseason comes around, you throw all that stuff out.”

This season against the Reds, the Braves hold an 8-5 edge, 5-2 at Riverfront. Glavine is 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA in four starts, covering 30 innings. His only loss at Riverfront came June 21 when he lost 3-1, giving up four hits and two earned runs in seven innings.

“There’s no question the success I’ve had there will give me a good feeling going out on the mound, but by no means will I be thinking I can just do what I want,” Glavine said.

The Reds swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opening round of the playoffs and have been idle since winning Game 3 10-1 Friday night.

The Braves made it into the NL Championship Series for the fourth straight time Saturday night, beating the Colorado Rockies 10-4 to win the series 3-1.

Although there were plenty of smiles, the champagne celebration in the Braves clubhouse was low key, following the clinching win over Colorado.

“I think it’s important that we have a little fun now,” Glavine said. “But our goal is to win the World Series.”

The Braves lost the World Series in 1991 in seven games to Minnesota. In 1992, Atlanta was beaten by Toronto in six games. The Braves lost in their bid for a third straight World Series berth in 1993 when the Philadelphia Phillies defeated them in six games in the NL playoffs.

Manager Bobby Cox gave his team a day off Sunday before traveling to Cincinnati Monday, where they will work out after the Reds.

Reds manager Davey Johnson will remain with his left-handed starters against the Braves, following Schourek with John Smiley in Game 2 and David Wells in Game 3 at Atlanta.

Schourek (18-7, 3.22 ERA) was 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA in six innings this season against Atlanta. Smiley (12-5, 3.46) was 1-1 with a 2.17 ERA in four starts against the Braves. Wells (6-5, 3.59) did not pitch against Atlanta this season.

Cox has not made up his mind as to his second game pitcher. It will be either John Smoltz or Greg Maddux. Maddux would be pitching on three days rest after working seven innings and gaining the win against Colorado Saturday night.

Smoltz (12-7, 3.18 ERA) was 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in three starts this season against Cincinnati. Maddux (19-2, 1.63 ERA) was 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA in fours starts against the Reds.

Cox also has some mild concern about injuries to right fielder David Justice and shortstop Jeff Blauser. Justice fouled a ball off his right knee in the second inning Saturday night, but remained in the game. Blauser hurt his right ankle at Denver and injured it again Friday night and did not play Saturday.

“Justice’s knee started swelling badly at the end of the game,” Cox said Saturday night. ” … Blauser I think will be ready by Tuesday.”