After two cancelled games with the New York Mets this weekend due to Hurricane Irene, the Atlanta Braves head home for a series with divisional rival the Washington Nationals. Atlanta brings a 79-54 Losing 1 7-3 Last 10 record into tonights game while Washington posts a 62-70 Losing 6 3-7 Last 10 record. Jurrgens will get duty for Atlanta and is 13-5 2.71 ERA but has had struggles in the month of August where he is 1-2 5.19 ERA. Jurrgens has also had difficulties with Washington where he has 9.00 ERA vs. the Nationals in three outings and gave up 5 runs in 5 Innings Pitched the last time the two teams played. Hernadez 7-12 4.36 ERA will start for Washington who as a team has only scored 13 runs in a six game losing streak tying a season high. Hernadez makes his 36th career start vs Atlanta and is 8-18 4.78 ERA and 2-2 2.41 ERA last six in this matchup. Chipper Jones, Martin Prado and Brain McCann all have .350+ averages against Hernadez. Washington is 11-4 after a day off, 10-9 after 3 consecutive losses and have won 3 of the last 5 in this mathcup. Atlanta is 4-2 after a shutout and 33-21 after a loss. Washington has averaged 2.4 Runs Per Game Last 7 while Atlanta has averaged 3.9 Runs Per Game Last 7. Jurrgens has allowed 23 H's 2 HR's 9 BB and only 3 K's in his last three starts while Hernadez has allowed 18 H's 0 HR's 4 BB and 8 K's in his last three starts. Source ESPN MLB Preview.
I do like your Braves today, JJurggens is an ace, no question, hes just been shaky(probably due to injury), Livan is an old veteran who throws mainly offspeed stuff(he can hit too), if hes on hes pretty dang good, just cant get myself to bet Atlanta at -200, and I dont usually bet against good pitchers, so Washington is a no play for me.
Washington has one of the worse road batting averages in the majors from my notes from last week so Jurrgens strikeout talley has a great possiblity of getting back on track tonight. With Washington only scoring 13 runs in 6 games and averaing 2.7 Runs Per Game Last 7 combined with an opposing pitcher who has more active starts than any other pitcher vs Atlanta and a Braves offense who only got one runner into scoring position in their last game, the under seems to be the course of action. Atlanta Bullpen needed a few days off from extreme work load since All Star Break and should be business as usual if Braves can scratch out a lead with Chipper, Prado and McCann. Zimmerman has gone cold for Nationals going 3 for 25 last 6 and Hernadez has not given up any Home Run balls in his last three games.
Ankiel was the man who did the most damage to Atlanta last meeting. Jurrgens will have to make him a priority out. Also McCann who is usually spot on with throws down to second has been a little off lately. Need him to get back to efficent throws on base stealing attempts. He should be back to business as well after the rest.
