Game two of the Atlanta/Washington series tonight will feature Mike Minor and Stephen Strasburg dueling head to head at Turner Field. Minor is 12 -5 2.87 ERA overall on the season for Atlanta and has gone 4-1 2.23 ERA in last seven outings. Minor atypically gave up some HR's a few weeks ago but since has posted 25 consecutive Innings Piched without allowing a HR. Minor has a 1.80 BB's per Nine Innings statistic among the best in the National League but has struggled with BB's in this matchup in the past allowing 15+ BB's vs. Washngton in 38 Innings Pitched. Minor's task tonight will be to improve on the BB's vs. the Nationals, Strasburg is 6-9 2.83 ERA overall on the season for Washington and has posted a 2.37 ERA in five starts since the All Star Break including a shut out in most recent outing. Strasburg has averaged 10 K's and at least seven Innings Pitched in those outings. Strasburg has posted a 2.14 ERA in four starts vs. Atlanta but is only 0-1 in those starts due to lack of run support. Washington has scored 28 runs going 3-11 in this season series and must provide Strasburg run support tonight if Washington hopes to even up the series. Justin Upton provided the winning HR in extra innings last night but Upton is 3 for 15 with 5 K's vs. Strasburg. Freeman has had the most success going 4 for 6 with a HR vs. Strasburg. Bryce Harper has been hit by pitch three time in this matchup in the past ten days and that volcano is primed to erupt and surprisingly has not erupted already. Atlanta now has won 18 of last 20 games posting a 15 1/2 game lead over Washington in the National League East Division. Two of the major keys to tonight's game will be Minor's ability to keep the BB's to a minimum and run support for Strasburg. Should be a good game to catch on channel 646 DTV at 7:10 PM EST as each pitcher will be dueling head to head on a Saturday Night in Atlanta. Source: ESPN MLB Preview.
