Series preview: vs. Pirates
When (TV): 7:10 p.m. Monday (SPSO), 7:10 p.m. Tuesday (SPSO), 12:10 p.m. Wednesday (SPSO).
Radio: 680, 93.7, 100.5
Probable starting pitchers:
Monday: Braves RH Kris Medlen (1-6, 3.48 ERA) vs. RH A.J. Burnett (3-5, 2.72)
Tuesday: Braves LH Mike Minor (7-2, 2.48) vs. LH Jeff Locke (5-1, 2.25)
Wednesday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (3-2, 3.71) vs. LH Wandy Rodriguez (6-3, 3.47)
About the Braves:
Batting: B.J. Upton returned after being out of the Braves lineup five times in seven games to go 3-for-8 with a home run and two RBIs in two wins over the Nationals, including a walk-off RBI single in the 10th inning Saturday night. Utility man Ramiro Pena is 13-for-32 (.406) with a double, a triple, two home runs and eight RBIs in his past 14 games. The Pirates will remember Evan Gattis for his game-winning two-run homer in his first ever pinch-hit at-bat in a 6-4 win in Pittsburgh on April 18.
Pitching: Medlen went a career-low two innings in his last start Wednesday against the Blue Jays after getting hit by a line drive on his left calf. It was another disappointing day in a rocky season for the right-hander who is still struggling for consistency. He gave up three runs in six innings of a 3-2 loss against the Pirates at PNC Park on April 21, starting a five-game losing streak over eight starts.
Miscellaneous: The Braves lost three of four against the Pirates in Pittsburgh April 18-21. They scored only five earned runs in the 17 2/3 innings against Pirates starters in the first three games, before Jonathan Sanchez gave up two runs in three innings in the series finale.
About the Pirates:
Batting: The Pirates were shut out in back-to-back games against the Reds Friday and Saturday and have scored only 12 runs in their past six games. Garrett Jones hit a game-tying two-run home run Sunday 463 feet into the Allegheny River. After hitting .327 in April, Starlin Marte hit .243 in May. Alex Presley is 3-for-6 since his call-up from Triple-A. Neil Walker is 14-for-40 (.350) with a double, triple, three home runs and five RBIs in the past 10 games.
Pitching: Burnett, the Pirates ace, is the only starter the Braves did not face in the April series. He has only three wins despite allowing three or fewer earned runs in each of his 12 starts and never going fewer than five innings. He held the high-powered Tigers to three earned runs in six innings on May 29 for his seventh straight quality start. Closer Jason Grilli is a perfect 22-for-22 in save opportunities, with a 1.05 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 25 2/3 innings. Setup man Mark Melancon has a 0.90 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 30 innings.
Miscellaneous: The Pirates' record of 35-22, second to St. Louis in the NL Central, is better than the five other division leaders including Atlanta at 34-22. The Pirates took three of four games against Detroit before losing two of three to Cincinnati, salvaging a walk-off win Sunday in 11 innings.
- Carroll Rogers
