Series Preview: Atlanta Braves at Detroit Tigers 4/26-4/28

Pitching Probables:
Fri: Paul Maholm (ATL) 3-1, 1.03 ERA vs. Anibal Sanchez (DET) 2-1, 1.75 ERA
Sat: Kris Medlen (ATL) 1-2, 2.16 ERA vs. Rick Porcello (DET) 0-2, 11.08 ERA
Sun: Mike Minor (ATL) 3-1, 1.80 ERA vs. Doug Fister (DET) 3-0, 2.00 ERA

Comparisons by Position:
C:
Evan Gattis (ATL) .246/.309/.607 6 HR 13 RBI
Alex Avila (DET) .177/.227/.274 2 HR 2 RBI
1B:
Freddie Freeman (ATL) .321/.424/.500 1 HR 8 RBI
Prince Fielder (DET) .311/.430/.595 5 HR 21 RBI
2B:
Dan Uggla (ATL) .185/.312/.385 4 HR 6 RBI
Omar Infante (DET) .284/.310/.313 0 HR 5 RBI
3B:
Chris Johnson (ATL) .397/.424/.556 2 HR 7 RBI
Juan Francisco (ATL) .316/.339/.544 4 HR 11 RBI
Miguel Cabrera (DET): .361/.432/.506 2 HR 20 RBI
SS:
Andrelton Simmons (ATL) .209/.289/.269 1 HR 7 RBI
Jhonny Peralta (DET) .299/.337/.390 1 HR 10 RBI
LF:
Justin Upton (ATL) .316/.402/.797 11 HR 16 RBI
Andy Dirks (DET) .167/.281/.188 0 HR 4 RBI
CF:
BJ Upton (ATL) .150/.225/.300 3 HR 5 RBI
Austin Jackson (DET) .277/.340/.372 1 HR 7 RBI
RF:
Jordan Schafer (ATL) .438/.550/.500 0 HR 2 RBI
Reed Johnson (ATL) .286/.318/.476 0 HR 0 RBI
Torii Hunter (DET) .373/.416/.518 1 HR 10 RBI
DH:
Victor Martinez (DET) .187/.279/.213 0 HR 6 RBI

Preview:

Paul Maholm gets the ball in the series opener against the Tigers on Friday night. Opposing him will be Tigers SP Anibal Sanchez. Maholm began the season on an incredible scoreless streak of 25 2/3 innings, which was the longest such streak to begin a season since 1966. Maholm took his first loss of the season in his last start against the Pirates, giving up three runs on four hits, walked three batters, and struck out five over six innings as the Braves fell to the Pirates, 3-1. In his career against the Tigers, Maholm is 0-1 with a 2.60 ERA in three starts.
Braves will face a familiar foe in Sanchez Friday night, who pitched for the Marlins from 2006 to 2012. In seventeen starts against the Braves, Sanchez is 4-11 with a 5.42 ERA. Safe to say that the Braves have touched him up over the years. Sanchez is off to an impressive start for the Tigers, posting a 1.75 ERA in four starts and has yet to allow a HR this season. In his last start against the Angels, Sanchez allowed three runs (two earned) on eleven hits, and struck out three over 6.2 innings. Tigers fell to the Angels 8-1 and were swept.

Brian McCann to make rehab start with Rome, Freddie Freeman looks to get going, Francisco to DH:

Perhaps Brian McCann is a couple weeks away from returning from shoulder surgery. He'll be playing in rehab games with the Rome Braves as he prepares to come back to the big league club.
Freddie Freeman returned Tuesday from his right obliques strain and went 1-for-6 in the doubleheader. Freeman finished the series going 2-for-11 from the plate. Freeman put good swings on the ball in the series, but to no avail. It's only a matter of time before those begin to drop for him.
With the Braves playing the Tigers in Detroit, Juan Francisco will be in the lineup tonight as the designated hitter. Francisco went 2-for-4 in Wednesday's game, his fourth multi-hit game over his last six ballgames.