Atlanta and Washington will meet tonight each team looking to take a positive step foward starting the second half of the season with a win after the MLB All Star Break. Atlanta is 54-38 overall losing 1 7-3 Last 10 and trying to bury a 13-1 shelling by the Phillies last time out. Washington is and even 46-46 winning 1 and 5-5 Last 10. It is the first time in 6 years the Nats have finished the first half of the season at .500. Veteran Hudson will get duty for Atlanta tonight and is 8-6 3.57 ERA overall and has pegged two straight wins. Hudson has had great months of mid and latter June and early July going 4-1 2.41 ERA in his last 6 outings. Hudson is no stranger to Washington with 20 career starts going 11-3 2.00 ERA in that time frame. Veteran Hernadez will get duty for Washington and is 5-8 4.01 ERA overall. His greatest asset tonight will be it will be his 34th career start against Atlanta. Hernandez is 7-17 4.77 ERA lifetime against Atlanta but more recently has had success going 4-2 2.73 ERA in his last 9 outings against the Braves. Zimmerman, Werth, and Uggla all have below .200 averages with these pitching mathcups and Morse appears to be the only hot bat hitting .421 in last five games. Pug Rodriquez and Chipper Jones are sidelined with injury while Martin Prado may see action for the first time tonight after a long injury absence. Washington is 1-4 SU Last 5 on the road while Atlanta is 10-3 SU overall last 13. The over has won 5 out of 5 when Washington plays in Atlanta, but with both teams starting veteran pitchers who have had recent success's, several key players still sidelined with injury and hitters who have struggled in this particular pitching matchup, that trend could very well fall tonight. Source ESPN MLB Preview And Matchup.
