Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Atlanta Braves (7:10 pm ET, FSN)
Pittsburgh Pirates will look out to level the series against Atlanta Braves in Game 2 (7:10 pm ET, FSN) at Turner Field, Atlanta, Georgia, to stay alive in the series. Currently Pirates have 20-29 home, 9-17 record whereas Braves 26-22 away, 14-6 home record.
In 13 tries against Central opponents, The Braves seek their 12th win on Saturday night.
Against the Central, Atlanta (26-22) was 2-5, after suffering a four-game sweep in St. Louis in late April but it seems they have moved on well.
This month before Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit’s walk-off homer snapped that streak on Sunday, They had won all nine meetings with Central opponents. They went back to work Friday against Pittsburgh (20-29), after winning two of three in Florida. For an injured Brian McCann, David Ros has replaced and had hit a two-run double to highlight a four-run first inning before Atlanta had to sit through two rain delays to earn a 7-3 win. In a division where all five teams are within four games of the top, the Braves remained 1 1/2 games behind first-place Philadelphia.
After improving to 9-0 in nine career starts against the Pirates, starter Derek Lowe said, “We’re starting to play like we feel we should have all year.”
The star rookie, Jason Heyward, is hitting .367 (22 for 60) with 5 homers and 19 RBIs in 17 games against the Central and he has enjoyed facing the Central the most of all. He too has six hits and four walks in 15 plate appearances versus Pittsburgh.
Brian Burres (2-2, 5.40 ERA), in his last three outings after walking four and allowing five runs over 3 2/3 innings of a 7-5 loss at Cincinnati has a 7.90 ERA.
For the second straight start, Atlanta right-hander Kris Medlen (1-1, 2.57) will oppose Pittsburgh. On Sunday, he gave seven hits over 5 2/3 innings and gave up two runs.
