<hr style="color: rgb(253, 222, 130); background-color: rgb(253, 222, 130);" size="1"> <!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> Brandon Lang
5 DIMER - ATLANTA BRAVES - I know they haven't won 8 in a row since 2003, but tonight is that night.
My breakdown of this game is neither one of these pitchers will factor in the decision. I believe this game will be tied late and it will be the bullpen of the Marlins that is the difference.
You look at Johnson's numbers against the Braves and they are rock solid. How about 4-2 with a 2.81 ERA in 11 games which includes 10 starts against them.
He pitched a complete game back in 2008 at Turner Field in the Marlins 4-1 win. He is also trying to become the first Marlins pitcher since 2005 to win 16 games.
Scratched from his original start on Sunday because of the swine flu, he gives it a go in Atlanta tonight.
As for Hudson, similar numbers against these Marlins to the tune of 8-2 with a 2.68 ERA in 14 career starts. He comes off a gem against them September 1st allowing 2 runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 4-3 win.
Both pitchers will pitch well but at the end of the day the team with the better bullpen, fighting for a playoff spot and playing at home will get the late inning win.
Braves are the play.
ATLANTA BRAVES (Hudson over Johnson)
5 DIMER - MILWAUKEE BREWERS - Feeling the heat in Colorado.
Once a sure lock for the wildcard, the Rockies have seen their lead drop to just 2 games heading into tonight's ballgame with the Brewers.
And Jason Marquis, who is falling faster than the Dow Jones, goes to the hill trying to snap a tough little stretch.
Over his last 6 starts, he is 1-4 with a 6.49 ERA and over his last 3 starts, how about 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA and as a team, the Rockies have lost 3 in a row started by Marquis.
As for the Brewers, they send Chris Naveson goes to the hill, and I like this kid.
He is 2-0 with a 3.82 ERA and every start he seems to get better, as evidenced by his outstanding start Wednesday, allowing one run and striking out a career-high 10 in 5 2-3 innings to beat Chicago 3-2.
Over his 3 big league starts so far he is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA striking out 15 in just 13 2/3 innings. More importantly, the Brewers have won every one of his starts.
I will take this kid as a nice dog winner and go against the Rockies again tonight.
Play on Milwaukee.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (Narveson over Marquis)
5 DIMER - SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS - The only guy you can count on right now for the Giants is Jonathan Sanchez.
Not only does he come off a big win at Arizona his last time out going 5 1/3 innings allowing 2 runs on 6 hits winning 5-2 but he is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two home starts against the Diamondbacks this season.
He did not receive a decision in a 4-3 win over visiting Arizona on Aug. 26 after giving up three runs and six hits over seven innings.
Not a fan of Doug Davis.
Yes, he did get a much needed win last time out against these same Giants but it wasn't as much what he did as the implosion of Matt Cain.
Cain was given a 3-0 lead but couldn't hold it and was knocked out in the 3rd inning in a game the Giants went on to lose 10-8.
Davis gave up five runs and 10 hits over 7 1-3 innings in that game to get the win.
That was the only win Arizona got in that series and coming into the Bay area tonight, they won't be as confident here either.
Arizona, which plays its final six games on the road, has lost 17 of 23 away from Chase Field.
I will roll with the home town Giants and Sanchez tonight.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (Sanchez over Davis)
5 DIMER - ATLANTA BRAVES - I know they haven't won 8 in a row since 2003, but tonight is that night.
My breakdown of this game is neither one of these pitchers will factor in the decision. I believe this game will be tied late and it will be the bullpen of the Marlins that is the difference.
You look at Johnson's numbers against the Braves and they are rock solid. How about 4-2 with a 2.81 ERA in 11 games which includes 10 starts against them.
He pitched a complete game back in 2008 at Turner Field in the Marlins 4-1 win. He is also trying to become the first Marlins pitcher since 2005 to win 16 games.
Scratched from his original start on Sunday because of the swine flu, he gives it a go in Atlanta tonight.
As for Hudson, similar numbers against these Marlins to the tune of 8-2 with a 2.68 ERA in 14 career starts. He comes off a gem against them September 1st allowing 2 runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 4-3 win.
Both pitchers will pitch well but at the end of the day the team with the better bullpen, fighting for a playoff spot and playing at home will get the late inning win.
Braves are the play.
ATLANTA BRAVES (Hudson over Johnson)
5 DIMER - MILWAUKEE BREWERS - Feeling the heat in Colorado.
Once a sure lock for the wildcard, the Rockies have seen their lead drop to just 2 games heading into tonight's ballgame with the Brewers.
And Jason Marquis, who is falling faster than the Dow Jones, goes to the hill trying to snap a tough little stretch.
Over his last 6 starts, he is 1-4 with a 6.49 ERA and over his last 3 starts, how about 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA and as a team, the Rockies have lost 3 in a row started by Marquis.
As for the Brewers, they send Chris Naveson goes to the hill, and I like this kid.
He is 2-0 with a 3.82 ERA and every start he seems to get better, as evidenced by his outstanding start Wednesday, allowing one run and striking out a career-high 10 in 5 2-3 innings to beat Chicago 3-2.
Over his 3 big league starts so far he is 1-0 with a 2.63 ERA striking out 15 in just 13 2/3 innings. More importantly, the Brewers have won every one of his starts.
I will take this kid as a nice dog winner and go against the Rockies again tonight.
Play on Milwaukee.
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (Narveson over Marquis)
5 DIMER - SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS - The only guy you can count on right now for the Giants is Jonathan Sanchez.
Not only does he come off a big win at Arizona his last time out going 5 1/3 innings allowing 2 runs on 6 hits winning 5-2 but he is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in two home starts against the Diamondbacks this season.
He did not receive a decision in a 4-3 win over visiting Arizona on Aug. 26 after giving up three runs and six hits over seven innings.
Not a fan of Doug Davis.
Yes, he did get a much needed win last time out against these same Giants but it wasn't as much what he did as the implosion of Matt Cain.
Cain was given a 3-0 lead but couldn't hold it and was knocked out in the 3rd inning in a game the Giants went on to lose 10-8.
Davis gave up five runs and 10 hits over 7 1-3 innings in that game to get the win.
That was the only win Arizona got in that series and coming into the Bay area tonight, they won't be as confident here either.
Arizona, which plays its final six games on the road, has lost 17 of 23 away from Chase Field.
I will roll with the home town Giants and Sanchez tonight.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (Sanchez over Davis)
