Don’t Expect A Blowout Braves Favored Because Of Pitching, But Astros Have Played Them Tough

Maybe this won’t be the blowout everyone expects.

Granted, the Atlanta Braves have the best record, the best pitching, the most postseason experience, seemingly everything in their favor heading into today’s opener in the best-of-5 N.L. division series against Houston.

But the Astros hardly seem intimidated. They played 11 games against the Braves during the regular season - all decided by two runs or less - and believe they can keep things close enough to pull off a monumental upset.

“There’s absolutely no pressure on us. No one is expecting us to win,” said Jeff Bagwell, who figures to play a vital role for the Astros after another monster season: 43 homers, 135 RBIs and 31 stolen bases. “We usually play to the level of our competition. We play bad against bad teams and good against good teams, and we’ve played good against the Braves.”

Atlanta, 7-4 against the Astros during the season, is making an unprecedented sixth straight postseason appearance after cruising to the N.L. East title with baseball’s best record, 101-61.

“I don’t feel like we’ve got a lot of holes,” said Greg Maddux (19-4), who will pitch the opener on eight days rest against Houston ace Darryl Kile (19-7). “We stack up well against any team in baseball.”

Certainly, no one can match Atlanta’s starting pitchers. The Braves will send three Cy Young winners to the mound in the first three games - Maddux will be followed by Tom Glavine (14-7) Wednesday and John Smoltz (15-12) Friday when the series shifts to the Astrodome - and have 20-game winner Denny Neagle in reserve for Game 4.

“If we don’t at least get back to the World Series, we’ll fall short of our goal,” Neagle said. “That’s been our goal since Day One of spring training.”

While the Braves are accustomed to the postseason, the Astros are entering a strange, new world. This is their first postseason appearance since 1986 and the only players on the 25-man roster with playoff experience are Derek Bell, Thomas Howard and Tony Pena.

Neagle remembers his first playoff game in 1992, when he pitched for Pittsburgh against Atlanta in the N.L. title series.

“I was as nervous as I could be,” he said. “I was more nervous than I’ve ever been for any other game. That’s natural.”

Neagle glanced over to the visiting dugout at Turner Field.

“No matter what anyone says, the amount of postseason games in this clubhouse is a big advantage,” he said. “I know Bagwell, (Craig) Biggio and Kile have been to the All-Star Game, but even that’s a little bit different than this. No matter who you are, this is a different ballgame. Guys react differently to it. It will be interesting to see how they react.”

Actually, the pressure is on the Braves in the first two games. The Astros (84-78) may have the worst record of the eight playoff teams - 17 fewer victories than Atlanta - but the final three games would be played at the Astrodome if the series goes the distance.

“That big ballpark in Atlanta is conducive to our game, so that helps,” Bagwell said. “We’re a scrappy team and that’s the way we play a game. If we play hard and don’t make mistakes and only give them 27 outs, we’ve got a shot.”

Kenny Lofton and Atlanta’s shaky bullpen may be the keys.

Lofton, who began his career with the Astros, had only 27 stolen bases, but seems to have recovered from a nagging groin pull. He is the Braves’ top hitter at .333.

But the bullpen has struggled. Closer Mark Wohlers’ ERA soared to 3.50 in the final weeks as he struggled with his control. And his sidekicks are rookies Mike Cather, Kerry Ligtenberg and Kevin Millwood.