Colorado @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2011 ) Colorado 1, Atlanta 9
THE STORY: The Atlanta Braves, who are 8-1 on their 10-game homestand, go for a four-game sweep against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday. The Braves have scored four or more runs in nine of their last 10 games and have allowed zero or one run in six of those 10, during which time their ERA is 2.44. Colorado has lost its last four games and seven of its last 10.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportSouth (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Juan Nicasio (3-1, 4.10 ERA) vs. Braves RH Tim Hudson (7-6, 3.57).
Nicasio is coming off the best effort of his rookie season - eight scoreless innings against Kansas City on Saturday. It broke a two-game stretch where he had allowed 10 runs in 9 2/3 innings. He has struggled on the road, where he has a 7.47 ERA in three starts, and has allowed four homers in 15 2/3 innings. Nicasio has shown good control and struck out nine against the Padres on June 14. This will be his first appearance against Atlanta. Hudson has won two straight and pitched well over the last three, allowing three runs in 20 innings (1.35 ERA). He has been especially tough at home, where he has a 2.78 ERA. Hudson has been stronger as the game gets longer - after throwing his 60th pitch, the opposition is batting only .150 (23-for-153). He has struggled at times against the Rockies with a career record of 3-2 and a 4.86 ERA in six starts.
ABOUT THE ROCKIES (41-46): Colorado’s Carlos Gonzalez (wrist) and Troy Tulowitzki (quadriceps) could return to the lineup Thursday. Gonazalez has missed the first three games of the series and Tulowitzki left midway through the first game. Charlie Blackmon is 1-for-13 since being moved to the leadoff spot in place of Gonzalez. Matt Pagnozzi is 6-for-19 in the six games he has started at catcher, but the Rockies have lost each of the games. Colorado is 1-14 on the road when scoring two runs or less. The Rockies have allowed 40 runs over the last five games, four of them losses.
ABOUT THE BRAVES (52-36): Dan Uggla is making noises again and his season-long slump may be coming to an end. He has back-to-back multi-hit games for the second time this season, with a homer in each game. He has also raised his average to .183, the lowest among any regular in the National League, but higher than he’s been since June 12. Nate McLouth is 25-for-89 (.281) while hitting in the No. 8 slot. Freddie Freeman is 4-for-10 with three home runs in the series. Alex Gonzalez continues to struggle - he is 10-for-78 (.128) over his last 21 games.
FINAL PITCH: Atlanta’s Martin Prado, out for a month with a staph infection that required surgery, has started a rehab assignment with Triple A Gwinnett. He is expected to play five or six games in the minors and return to the Braves after the All-Star break.