Houston @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2012 ) Houston 1, Atlanta 4
Paul Maholm will make his debut with the Atlanta Braves on Saturday when the left-hander takes the mound against Houston. Acquired with Reed Johnson prior to the trade deadline, Maholm had won five straight with the Chicago Cubs. Atlanta will vie for its 10th victory in 11 outings and look to inch even closer to National League East-leading Washington when it continues its series versus reeling Houston.
Chipper Jones ripped a two-run double to highlight Friday's 4-1 triumph for the Braves, who sit two games behind the Nationals. The Astros, however, have likely stopped looking at the standings a long time ago. Houston has dropped four in a row and 29 of its last 32 - including 10 straight on the road - to fall 30 1/2 games behind NL Central-leading Cincinnati.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSH (Houston), PTV (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Lucas Harrell (8-7, 4.03 ERA) vs. Braves LH Paul Maholm (9-6, 3.74)
Although he has pitched well, Harrell posted his first victory in over a month after permitting two runs on five hits in a 9-5 win over Pittsburgh on Sunday. The 27-year-old Harrell, who allowed five runs over his last four starts, has yet to face Atlanta in his young career.
Maholm has yielded five runs total in his last six starts. The 30-year-old did allow four walks to go along with four hits in a no-decision against St. Louis on Sunday. Maholm improved to 12-6 in his career versus Houston after scattering four hits in 8 1/3 innings on June 29.
WALK-OFFS
1. Jones is certainly not slowing down with age. The 40-year-old has 40 hits - including 19 for extra bases - since June 19.
2. Houston RHP Francisco Cordero was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an inflamed right big toe.
3. Atlanta rookie SS Andrelton Simmons had his cast removed, but his fractured right pinkie finger doesn't seem to be healing as fast as anticipated. Manager Fredi Gonzalez noted that a late August return is optimistic.