The last time the Atlanta Braves played on the West Coast a few weeks ago, the Giants took three of four games as the Braves offense sputtered. The Braves hope this long plane ride back out to Los Angeles will result in wins. Atlanta 37-22 brings a five game winning streak into tonight's game with LAD after an outstanding pitching performance by Julio Teheran yesterday where Teheran came within only four outs of throwing a No Hitter. The Braves completed the sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates but now must focus on LAD even though Atlanta swept LAD a few weeks ago at Turner Field. Hudson is 4-4 4.80 ERA on the season but has struggled going 0-3 6.33 ERA in five starts since May 5th. The Road Starts have been especially rough as Hudson has gone 1-4 7.67 ERA in his last six outings in opponent ballparks. Hudson is 1-2 5.03 ERA in seven starts vs. LAD and will face Gonzales who is .419 average with 4 HR's and 13 RBI's in last 12 games. Gonzales is also with a .471 average with 2 HR's vs. Hudson. LAD's upstart Puig is 5 for 8 with 2 HR's and 5 RBI's in first two games and will be the first matchup vs. Hudson. Greinke is 2-1 4.80 ERA on the season but 0-1 8.78 ERA in three starts allowing 28 Hits since returning from a collarbone injury roughly a month ago. Greinke is 0-1 5.73 ERA in two career starts vs. Atlanta. Jason Heyward had a two run HR in the Pittsburgh series but is only .089 average on the road this season and .119 lifetime at Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles. Simmons however does have an active 11 game hit streak coming into tonight's 10:10 PM EST start time. If Atlanta hopes to have success on this West Coast Trip, Hudson will have to shake off his past road performances and give Atlanta a quality outing tonight. On the offensive end, the Braves must do a better job with fundamental hitting on the road this time around moving runners over and getting them in. Atlanta had to play come from behind to win in every game vs. LAD a few weeks ago and may not be so fortunate in an enemy environment this time around if they fall behind early in the games of this series. Source: ESPN MLB Preview.
