Pitching Probables:
LHP Jeff Locke (PIT) 5-1, 2.25 ERA
LHP Mike Minor (ATL) 7-2, 2.48 ERA
Tonight's Starting Lineups (7:10 pm ET, SportSouth):
Pirates (career vs. Minor):
Starling Marte - LF (N/A)
Jordy Mercer - 2B (N/A)
Andrew McCutchen - CF (0-4, RBI, BB, 2 K)
Gaby Sanchez - 1B (3-8, 2 2B, RBI, 3 BB, K)
Russell Martin - RF (1-3, 2B, RBI, K)
Michael McKenry - C (N/A)
Pedro Alvarez - 3B (1-3, HR, 2 RBI, K)
Clint Barmes - SS (0-2)
Jeff Locke - P (N/A)
Braves (career vs. Locke):
Andrelton Simmons - SS (0-4)
Jason Heyward - RF (1-6, RBI, K)
Justin Upton - LF (1-2, HR, RBI, BB, K)
Freddie Freeman - 1B (0-2, BB, K)
Brian McCann - C (0-2, K)
Chris Johnson - 3B (2-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB)
Dan Uggla - 2B (0-2, BB)
BJ Upton - CF (1-3, HR, RBI, K)
Mike Minor - P (N/A)
Preview:
Jeff Locke is going home. Sort of. On Tuesday night, Locke will make his first career start in Atlanta against the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2006 MLB Draft before trading him to Pittsburgh in 2009 for Nate McLouth
Locke will oppose Mike Minor, who has been by far the Braves most consistent starting pitcher this season. He is 7-2 with a 2.48 ERA and has struck out 66 and walked only 14 in 11 starts. Minor will be just the second lefty the Pirates have seen in their last 22 games.
Jeff Locke has been equally as impressive and has not allowed a run in his last 19 1/3 innings. He's 5-1 with a 2.25 ERA this season. In his previous start against the Tigers, Locke only went 5 1/3 innings pitched, but was brilliant nonetheless allowing no runs on seven hits, walked a batter, and struck out three in the no decision.
Like Detroit, the Braves can hit. They roughed up AJ Burnett on Monday for six runs in five innings, the first time Burnett did not last six innings in a start since April 22nd. It was also the first time Burnett had surrendered more than three runs in a start this season.
Braves, who lead the Majors in home runs, went deep three times off Burnett, all of which were two-run shots.
Gattis named NL Rookie of the Month for May:
On Monday, Braves C/OF Evan Gattis was named NL Rookie of the Month for the second consecutive month. Gattis is batting .269 with 12 home runs and 32 runs batted in entering play tonight. He went deep six times and drove in 16 runs last month.
McCann reaches milestone:
Braves C Brian McCann recorded his 1,000th hit Monday night with a broken-bat single to left off Pirates reliever Mike Zagurski in the 7th inning. McCann went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer.
NL All-star voting update:
Brian McCann - 5th among catchers
Freddie Freeman - 5th among 1st basemen
Dan Uggla - 5th among 2nd basemen
Andrelton Simmons - 4th among shortstops
Chris Johnson - 3rd among 3B basemen
Justin Upton - 1st among OFs
BJ Upton - 13th among OFs
Side note:
Pirates are 15-8 against teams over .500 this season, including 3-2 against the Braves.
Mike Minor has allowed eight runs and 15 hits in 12 career innings against the Pirates.
Pirates are 10-6 overall and 6-3 against NL East teams.
Braves enter play on Tuesday with the 3rd best record in the NL and has the largest division lead in baseball (7 game lead over Washington).
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