Series preview: vs Los Angeles Angels
When (TV): 7:35 p.m. Friday (FSSO), 7:15 p.m. Saturday (FOX), 8:07 p.m. Sunday (ESPN)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers:
Friday: Braves RH Aaron Harang (4-5, 3.33 ERA) vs. LH C.J. Wilson (7-5, 3.32 ERA)
Saturday: Braves RH Gavin Floyd (1-2, 2.57) vs. RH Garrett Richards (6-2, 3.09)
Sunday: Braves LH Mike Minor (2-4, 4.31) vs. LH Hector Santiago (0-6, 4.15)
About the Braves:
Batting: Until scoring three runs in the eighth inning Thursday afternoon in Colorado, including a B.J. Upton two-run homer, the Braves had scored only two runs in their previous 19 innings. Evan Gattis is riding a career-high 12-game hitting streak, while batting 18-for-47 (.383) with three doubles, five homers and 13 RBIs. Second baseman Tommy La Stella had his seventh multi-hit game Thursday in 13 games played since his major league call-up May 28 in Boston.
Pitching: Harang is 0-2 over his past five starts, despite posting a 3.86 ERA over that time. He has quality starts in each of his last three outings but won only one of them, 4-2, on June 1 in Miami. He walked six batters his last time out in Arizona but allowed only three earned runs in six innings in a 6-5 loss to the Diamondbacks. Ervin Santana, who pitched Thursday in Colorado, just missed the chance to face his former team. He played eight seasons with the Angels, including his All-Star year in 2008.
Miscellaneous: The Braves are 0-6 in interleague play this year, losing four to the Red Sox and two to the Mariners. This is only their fourth series against the Angels. They're 4-5 against the Angels, including 3-3 over the past six games - all in Anaheim. Freddie Freeman, a native of Orange County, Calif., went 4-for-12 with a double against his favorite childhood team on the Braves' last trip to Anaheim in 2011.
About the Angels:
Batting: This is a rare chance for Braves fan to see the Angels' talented young center fielder Mike Trout in person. The 22-year-old, who has finished second in the American League MVP vote each of the past two seasons, is hitting .293 with 12 home runs and 45 RBIs. Albert Pujols, now 34, is hitting only .249 in his third season with the Angels but leads the club with 15 home runs. He has hit .347 in his career against the Braves, second-best to only Aramis Ramirez (.377) among active players. He has hit 13 home runs in 26 games at Turner Field.
Pitching: Wilson has made four quality starts in his past five outings including a five-hit shutout against the Rays on May 17. Wilson has pitched against the Braves four times – allowing four runs in 4 2/3 innings - all in relief, all with the Texas Rangers. He'll face the Braves for the first time since 2008 in his first action at Turner Field. The Angels' 3.83 ERA is fourth best in the American League. The Angels have won six of their past eight games during series victories over the Athletics and White Sox.
Miscellaneous: Cam Bedrosian, son of former Braves reliever Steve Bedrosian, got an early June call-up by the Angels. The 2010 first round draft pick out of East Coweta High has "Rock" as a middle name, in honor of his dad's nickname "Bedrock." He has pitched scoreless work in two of his first three outings. The Angels are making their first trip to Turner Field in interleague play since 2005 and only their second trip ever. They took two of three against the Braves in their first visit in 2005.
- Carroll Rogers
