Tonight's pitching matchup in the Atlanta/Colorado series features two pitchers with sub 2.00 ERA in their last four games. Atlanta's Mike Minor is 10-5 2.89 ERA overall on the season and 2-1 1.91 ERA in last four outings. Minor went through a rough patch of games a few weeks ago but seems to have righted the ship recently and will look to stay perfect vs. Colorado as Minor is 2-0 in three starts in this matchup even with a 5.50 ERA. Colorado's Tyler Chatwood is 7-3 2.48 ERA overall on the season and 3-1 1.95 ERA in last four outings. Chatwood has allowed two runs or fewer in 12 of 14 outings and will be challenged by an Atlanta team who has plated 20 runs so far in this series. Atlanta has averaged 7.8 runs winning four of five in this matchup this season and going 9 for 22 with Runners In Scoring Position in the last two nights. Chatwood is 1-1 5.63 ERA in three starts vs. Atlanta. Chatwood may receive some run support from Cuddyer who is 3 for 4 with a HR and a double vs. Minor and 5 for 12 with 4 RBI's in last three games. Arenado has homered for Colorado both nights and is .391 in last six games and may also continue to contribute for the Rockies tonight. McCann and Freeman both had huge 3 Run HR's last night for Atlanta and Johnson still with an eight game hit streak coming into tonight's action. Atlanta now on a five game winning streak but offensive output may cool off somewhat tonight if Chatwood is as sharp as the numbers indicate with 11 K's in last start. Minor also must deal with a Colorado lineup still with an explosive Fowler, Helton, Cuddyer and Gonzalez. An interesting side note for tonight's game also. Both pitchers can hit with Chatwood with a .345 average ranking second in MLB among qualifying pitchers with at least 30 at bats and Minor has homered this year and several RBI's. The pitcher's spot in the lineup may prove to be very significant tonight. Source: ESPN MLB Preview.
