Pitching Probables:
RHP Julio Teheran (ATL) 2-0, 4.84 ERA
LHP Patrick Corbin (ARZ) 5-0, 1.75 ERA
Tonight's Starting Lineups (9:40 pm ET, SportSouth)
Braves (career vs. Corbin):
Andrelton Simmons - SS (0-1)
Reed Johnson - CF (N/A)
Justin Upton - RF (N/A)
Freddie Freeman - 1B (0-1)
Evan Gattis - LF (N/A)
Dan Uggla - 2B (0-1, K)
Chris Johnson - 3B (N/A)
Gerald Laird - C (N/A)
Julio Teheran - P (N/A)
Diamondbacks (career vs. Teheran):
Gerardo Parra - RF (1-2)
Didi Gregorius - SS (N/A)
Paul Goldschmidt - 1B (N/A)
Eric Chavez - 3B (N/A)
Martin Prado - LF (N/A)
Miguel Montero - C (0-2)
AJ Pollock - CF (N/A)
Cliff Pennington - 2B (N/A)
Patrick Corbin - P (N/A)
Preview:
Patrick Corbin has been good. I mean REALLY good. Corbin has been so dominant that he has accomplished something that 4-time NL Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson, Brandon Webb, Curt Schilling, and Dan Haren could not do. Corbin is the first pitcher in Diamondbacks franchise history to throw at least six innings and allow no more than two runs in each of his first seven starts to begin the season. Corbin looks to improve upon that tonight when the D-backs host the first place Braves in the second game of a three-game series at Chase Field. Arizona looks to snap its three-game skid after getting trounced in the series opener last night, 10-1 in Justin Upton's anticipated return. Braves snapped a three-game losing streak of their own with that win last night and are still in sole possession of first place in the NL East, leading the Nationals by a single game.
Despite barely making the ball club out of Spring Training as the team's 5th starter, Corbin has soared to a 5-0 record in seven starts to go along with a 1.75 ERA, which is good for 6th in the NL. In 2012, Corbin went 6-8 with a 4.54 ERA in 17 starts and went at least six innings without giving up no more than two runs only six times.
Another promising, young pitcher, Julio Teheran is trying to make that same leap and has been showing signs of progress lately. Teheran (2-0, 4.84 ERA) struggled in the early going, allowing four runs in each of his first three starts of the season, but the 22-year-old is starting to figure things out as he has held the opposition to to three runs or fewer in his last three starts. In his last start on Thursday against the Giants, Teheran settled down nicely after giving up three early runs, all coming off the bat of Buster Posey, and shut down the Giants over seven innings. He struck out three without issuing a walk as he won his second game of the season which also happened to be the only win in the four-game series with the Giants.
Justin Upton's return to the desert:
Justin Upton was the first overall pick for the D-backs in the 2005 MLB Draft and played with the team from 2007-2012, making two All-Star teams and leading the D-backs to two playoff appearances. In his first game back as a visitor last night, Upton showed the D-backs what they are missing, going 4-for-5 including a massive moonshot to center field. Upton finished only a triple shy of the cycle.
The "throw-in" burns his former team:
The other guy that was sent to the Braves this past January along with Justin Upton absolutely unloaded on his former team last night. Chris Johnson went 3-for-4 with a HR and 3 RBI and like Justin Upton, finished a triple shy of the cycle. After being traded to the D-backs at the trade deadline last season from the Astros, Johnson hit .286/.321/.503 with 7 HR and 35 RBI in 44 games.
Prado struggling to begin the season:
Martin Prado, the fan favorite among Braves fans, was traded to Arizona along with Randall Delgado and three other Minor League prospects for Upton and Johnson. But so far this season, Prado has struggled in the middle of the D-backs lineup hitting .233/.285/.346 with 4 HR and only 9 RBI. He's hoping that this series against his old mates can get his bat going. Prado went 2-for-2 last night with a double and a walk after going hitless in his last two games.
Side note:
BJ Upton left Monday's game with a left shoulder contusion after being hit by Wade Miley in the 6th inning. Upton is listed as day-to-day and is not in tonight's lineup.
Teheran made his second Major League start against the D-backs at Chase Field and allowed two runs on six hits, walked two and struck out a batter in just four innings and earned a no decision.
Corbin's only experience against the Braves came last season when he worked three scoreless innings in relief.
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