Series Preview: Atlanta Braves at Pittsburgh Pirates 4/18-4/21

Pitching Probables:
Thu: Julio Teheran (ATL) 0-0, 7.36 ERA vs. Jeff Locke (PIT) 1-1, 4.09 ERA
Fri: Tim Hudson (ATL) 2-0, 2.50 ERA vs. Wandy Rodriguez (PIT) 1-0, 1.00 ERA
Sat: Paul Maholm (ATL) 3-0, 0.00 ERA vs. James McDonald (PIT) 1-1, 5.27 ERA
Sun: Kris Medlen (ATL) 1-1, 1.42 ERA vs. Jonathan Sanchez (PIT) 0-2, 12.96 ERA

Comparisons by Position:
C:
Evan Gattis (ATL): .262/.319/.595 4 HR 10 RBI
Russell Martin (PIT): .086/.200/.143 0 HR 1 RBI
1B:
Chris Johnson (ATL) .409/.435/.545 1 HR 5 RBI
Garrett Jones (PIT): .325/.372/.450 1 HR 5 RBI
2B:
Dan Uggla (ATL): .163/.293/.347 3 HR 4 RBI
Neil Walker (PIT): .234/.321/.298 1 HR 7 RBI
3B:
Juan Francisco (ATL) .333/.366/.564 3 HR 7 RBI
Pedro Alvarez (PIT): .089/.180/.089 0 HR 2 RBI
SS:
Andrelton Simmons (ATL): .200/.245/.289 1 HR 5 RBI
Clint Barmes (PIT): .111/.158/.167 0 HR 0 RBI
LF:
Justin Upton (ATL): .333/.393/.852 8 HR 12 RBI
Starling Marte (PIT): .362/.393/.534 1 HR 8 RBI
CF:
BJ Upton (ATL): .140/.232/.240 1 HR 2 RBI
Andrew McCutchen (PIT): .275/.333/.490 2 HR 11 RBI
RF:
Jason Heyward (ATL): .128/.281/.298 2 HR 5 RBI
Travis Snider (PIT): .290/.371/.387 0 HR 4 RBI

Preview:
Braves 10 game win streak was finally snapped Wednesday afternoon against the Royals in a 1-0 loss. Through 14 games this season, the Braves have outscored their opponents 68-27 while posting a team ERA of 1.77. The braves top four starters in their rotation (Hudson, Maholm, Medlen, Minor) have posted ERAs of 2.50, 0.00, 1.42, and 0.95 respectively. Julio Teheran looks to get going as he will get the ball Thursday night in the first of four at PNC Park against the Pirates. In his last start Friday against the Nationals, Teheran struggled early giving up four runs in the first two innings. He then settled down and pitched six innings of solid ball while giving up six hits, four runs (all earned), walked 3 batters, and struck out six.
Pirates have been playing well as of late, winning five of their last seven ball games after snapping a four game losing streak. Opposing Teheran on Thursday night will be Jeff Locke. Locke looked strong in his last start against the Reds, pitching five innings while allowing four hits, one run (earned), and walked four batters as he earned his first win of the 2013 season.