Atlanta @ Seattle preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 27, 2011 ) Atlanta 3, Seattle 1

THE STORY: American League Rookie of the Year candidate Michael Pineda has dominated National League clubs in three interleague starts this season and seeks to continue the trend when the Seattle Mariners host the Atlanta Braves in Tuesday’s second contest of the three-game interleague series. Pineda is 2-0 with a 0.45 ERA in three starts against NL teams, allowing just one run and eight hits while striking out 23 batters in 20 innings. The Braves posted a 3-1 victory in Monday’s contest due to Freddie Freeman’s two-run homer in the seventh, as Brandon Beachy outdueled Erik Bedard. Tommy Hanson comes off the disabled list to oppose Pineda.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SPSO, ROOT.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Tommy Hanson (8-4, 2.48) vs. Mariners RH Michael Pineda (7-4, 2.45)

Hanson is making his first start since June 12 due to shoulder tendinitis. He struck out a career-best 14 hitters in seven innings while holding Houston to one run and three hits in his last outing. Hanson has won three straight starts and seven of his last eight decisions. He ranks third in the NL in ERA and is holding opposing hitters to a league-low .189 average. He has never faced Seattle.

Pineda had a no-decision in his last outing, despite blanking Washington on four hits over seven innings. He struck out nine for the fourth time this season. Pineda has just one victory in his last six starts, despite allowing two runs or less in four of the outings. He has already pitched 95 2/3 innings, and the Mariners are concerned with overworking him.

ABOUT THE MARINERS (39-40): Seattle had just five hits in Monday’s loss and has scored two or fewer runs in seven of the last nine games. The Mariners have scored two or fewer runs 14 times in June. Rookie second baseman Dustin Ackley is hitting .303 and has reached base in each of his first 10 major-league games. Slumping Chone Figgins started at third base and was hitless in three at-bats. He has gone 0-for-16 since having two hits against the Los Angeles Angels on June 15. Figgins is batting .186. Designated hitter Jack Cust has just three at-bats since last starting on June 14. Cust is batting just .216 with two homers. Mike Carp had two of Seattle’s five hits.

ABOUT THE BRAVES (45-35): Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel struck out the side Monday for his 21st save and has 61 strikeouts in 39 innings leads all major-league relievers. Brian McCann had three hits and hit his 14th homer. McCann leads NL catchers in homers and appears certain to make the All-Star squad for the sixth straight season. Freeman’s ninth homer moved him into third place on the club behind McCann and Dan Uggla (11). Jason Heyward batted leadoff for the first time in his major-league career and went 1–for-4. The Braves are hoping Martin Prado (staph infection) will be cleared to begin running later this week and return before the All-Star break.

FINAL PITCH: “I just want to get back to where I was before my shoulder started bothering me. It’s been a couple weeks. I just want to get back out there and get things going again and hopefully pick up where I left off.” – Hanson on his first start since a stint on the disabled list.