Braves' opponent: San Francisco Giants
Keep an eye on: The surging Giants. The defending World Series champions had won 14 of their past 16 games heading into Sunday to stay within 1 ½ games of the Dodgers in the NL West. Both Matt Cain (elbow) and Jake Peavy (back) have returned from early-season injuries – the Braves will face both of them - and the Giants just added former Reds pitcher Mike Leake at the trade deadline. The Giants posted a 3.18 ERA in July, fifth-best in the majors.
Who's hot: Buster Posey hit .400 (30-for-75) in the month of July, which was tied for third-best in the majors among those with at least 20 at-bats.
Who's not: Angel Pagan was 4-for-22 (.182) in his previous six games entering Sunday.
Braves connection: Tim Hudson (4-6, 4.80 ERA) was bumped out of the Giants' rotation with the acquisition of Leake and went to the disabled list with a sore shoulder to create a roster spot for him. Hudson, 40, supported the acquisition and vowed to do "what's best for the club" and be ready when they might call on him. Hudson, who is planning to retire at the end of the season, will likely be making his farewell trip to Turner Field.
In the news: Tim Lincecum has been out for more than a month with a degenerative hip condition, receiving cortisone shots in both hips. He hopes to return before the season's end. Lincecum, 31, has yet to begin throwing off a mound again.
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