Washington @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2010 ) Washington 2, Atlanta 10
During a month in which the Atlanta Braves' pitching staff has been the best in the majors, Tim Hudson has been the best of the best.
The Braves hope for more of the same when Hudson takes on a Washington Nationals team he has dominated throughout his career when the three-game series continues tonight at Turner Field.
Hudson (14-5, 2.13 ERA) has posted identical lines in his last two starts, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out six over eight scoreless innings in wins against the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The 35-year-old right-hander has won his last five starts, allowing only two runs in 36 2/3 innings over that span. He has allowed one run or fewer in seven of his last nine outings.
Two of those sparkling starts have come at Washington's expense. Hudson shut out the Nationals for seven innings in a 5-0 win June 28 in Atlanta, and he held them to one run over 7 2/3 innings in a 3-1 win July 28 in Washington.
He also faced Washington on May 6, taking a no-decision in a 3-2 loss after giving up two runs over seven innings.
Shutting down the Nationals is nothing new for Hudson - he's 10-1 with a 1.49 ERA in 16 starts against Washington and has won his last nine decisions against the Nationals dating to 2006.
While most of the Nationals have struggled against Hudson, Ivan Rodriguez (14-for-32, 2 HRs) and Adam Dunn (9-for-25, 2 HRs) have given him problems.
Washington's offense didn't do much in the series opener, as rookie left-hander Mike Minor and three relievers held them to seven hits in a 10-2 Atlanta victory. Backup catcher Wil Nieves had three of those hits after replacing Rodriguez, who was ejected in the first inning.
The quiet night at the plate continued an alarming trend for the Nationals, who have hit .218 and averaged 2.8 runs per game in dropping seven of their last nine.
The Braves have faced similar offensive problems this month, though they've begun to turn things around during a three-game winning streak.
They scored 10 runs on 12 hits Tuesday, getting a boost from the return of All-Star Martin Prado, who went 3-for-5 with two RBIs in his return after missing 16 games with a broken right pinky.
Prado played third base and hit in the No. 3 spot vacated by Chipper Jones, who was lost for the season after having surgery last week to repair a torn ACL. The move down in the lineup was made possible by the hot hitting of new leadoff man Omar Infante, who has hit safely in 18 of 19 games to boost his average to .341.
The Braves look to keep it going against 35-year-old right-hander Livan Hernandez, who is 1-1 against Atlanta this season.
Hernandez (8-8, 3.08 ERA) has struggled against the Braves throughout his career, going 6-16 with a 5.19 ERA in 30 appearances against them. Brian McCann (5-for-16, 1 HR) and Prado (7-for-13) have hit Hernandez especially well.