Freddie Freeman suffering through flu-like symptoms

No one is surprised that the Braves are where they are right now - last in the NL East, buried under an 18-game deficit from first place, and still seeking their 17th win in early June. The last few weeks have been particularly taxing (literally), with news surfacing of the team's new stadium costs causing a tax raise in Cobb County and the Braves continuing an 11-game losing streak at San Diego's Petco Park.

With all this on the table, reporters found Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman in a less than ideal state by his locker on Monday night.

[Freeman's] weakened voice provided clear proof that he wasn't feeling well and it didn't necessarily have anything to do with the fact that he is the only Braves player who has been around for the entirety of an 11-game losing streak at Petco Park.

"I don't know what it is," Freeman said. "I threw up about six times today and threw up once yesterday. That's no excuse, but I just wasn't feeling good."

Having opened the season with only four wins in their first 21 games, the Braves, as expected, have yet to find anything resembling even consistent minor success. Their vision firmly on the future, the rebuilding squad is in the middle of yet another downward spiral, losing 11 of their last 15.

Last night saw the Braves start a three-game set in San Diego against the Padres, in which Freeman went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in a 7-2 loss. It was the fifth time Freeman logged three K's in a game this season. Atlanta starter Williams Perez gave up 6 ER in 4.1 IP to the team 25th in team BA (.237) and 28th in OPS (.673).

Freeman said that the flu-like symptoms through which he is currently suffering will not keep him out of the lineup, despite the obvious appeal. The Braves will play twice more in San Diego, looking for their first victory there since 2012.