Baltimore @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 14, 2009 ) Atlanta 2, Baltimore 11
THE STORY: The Atlanta Braves bring a three-game winning streak into their final interleague series as they host the Baltimore Orioles in a three-game set at Turner Field. It marks Baltimore’s first visit to Atlanta since 2006. The Orioles have dropped three straight and six of their last 10. In addition, Baltimore is starting a brutal road trip that takes it to Atlanta, Texas and Boston. The Braves are 8-2 over their last 10 and are 8-4 in interleague games. Baltimore has been successful when the games are close; the Orioles are 11-7 in one-run games.
TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, MASN, SPSO
PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Jeremy Guthrie (3-9, 3.93 ERA) vs. Braves RH Jair Jurrjens (10-3, 2.07 ERA)
Jurrjens pitched around trouble in his last start, but managed to secure his second straight win. He's allowed only one run in each of his two previous outings, but has failed to pitched seven innings in his last three starts. Right-handed batters are hitting .234 and all batters are hitting only .236 at Turner Field against him. This will be his first career appearance against the Orioles.
Guthrie survived a shaky outing in his last start to win for the first time in 35 days. He gave up four runs, six hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings against the Cincinnati Reds, but benefited from good run support. Guthrie has been a better pitcher on the road; he's thrown two complete games and has a 3.42 ERA on the road, even though his record is 1-5. This will mark his first career appearance against Atlanta.
ABOUT THE ORIOLES (35-43): Nick Markakis, who grew up in the Atlanta area, has a 19-game hitting streak. During that stretch, he’s had 11 multi-hit games and raised his batting average to .284. The series will be played without a designated hitter, meaning Vladimir Guerrero isn’t likely to start. He hasn’t started any of the six games played in a National League park this season, but it’s hard to ignore his .301 career average against Atlanta. Baltimore continues to tax its bullpen; only one starting pitcher threw seven innings in June.
ABOUT THE BRAVES (47-35): Catcher Brian McCann has hit safely in 10 of 11 games with five homers. He was 8-for-14 with a homer and four RBIs in the three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners. Rookie Freddie Freeman was 7-for-22 with seven RBIs on the six-game road trip. Reliever Jonny Venters may be starting to show signs of being overworked. He’s pitched 51 innings in 46 games and has allowed six runs in his last three appearance (2 2/3 innings). Closer Craig Kimbrel has 23 saves, four short of breaking the major-league record for most saves by a rookie before the All-Star game, a mark held by Jonathan Papelbon with 26.
FINAL PITCH: The Orioles demoted left-handed pitcher Brian Matusz to Triple-A Norfolk after he allowed eight runs in 3 1/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday. Matusz hasn’t had a quality start in six tries since coming off the disabled list on June 1.