Today the Pirates travel to Atlanta and in doing so embark on a 7 game road trip against the cream of the crop in the National League. The Pirates (52-47) look to remain relevant in the NL Central race and in order to do that must play exceptionally well over the next week. Tonight, the Pirates send James McDonald (6-4, 4.15 ERA) to the mound against the Braves Tim Hudson (9-6, 3.39 ERA). Tonight's game will also be the first since early July that the Braves will have their full compliment of starters at their disposal with the return of Chipper Jones. McDonald has been sharp as of late and in eight starts since the beginning of June, he has gone 6-2 with a 3.22 ERA. Tim Hudson has been equally good for the Braves over the past month going 3-0 with a 2.96 ERA in 4 July starts. Look for Garrett Jones to get a start in right field tonight against Hudson as he is a career .500 hitter against the Braves starter in 6 AB's.
*During the time that I was writing this post, Alex Presley was put on the 15-Day DL with a bruised thumb. To take his place on the 25 man roster, ladies and gentleman from Vanderbilt, Pedro Alvarez...it's about damn time.*
For those of you watching the ESPN broadcast of the game tonight (since it is blacked out in Pittsburgh), let me know the amount of times ESPN shows clips from the 1992 Pirates season. I say O/U 11.
I wish I could predict a Pirates win tonight, but I just don't feel great about it. With that being said, it wouldn't surprise me if JMac pitches really well and the Pirates are in it in the late innings. However, if they are down going into the 7th they are in big trouble with Venters, O'Flaherty and Kimbrel at the back end of that bullpen. In the end, Braves win 3-2. (Yes that is the same score as Game 7 of the 1992 NLCS, sue me.)
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