Pitching Probables:
RHP Tim Hudson (ATL) 4-7, 4.22 ERA
RHP Kyle Kendrick (PHI) 7-5, 3.59 ERA
Tonight's Starting Lineups (7:15 pm ET, FOX):
Braves (career vs. Kendrick):
Andrelton Simmons - SS (0-3, K)
Jason Heyward - RF (3-19, 2 BB, 5 K)
Justin Upton - LF (4-9, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K)
Freddie Freeman - 1B (2-10, 3 BB, 2 K)
Brian McCann - C (8-31, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 4 BB, K)
Dan Uggla - 2B (11-35, 4 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 3 K)
BJ Upton - CF (1-2)
Chris Johnson - 3B (2-7, RBI, K)
Tim Hudson - P (1-7, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 K)
Phillies (career vs. Hudson):
Michael Young - 3B (9-29, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K)
Chase Utley - 2B (15-65, 3 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 5 BB, 10 K)
Jimmy Rollins - SS (18-81, 4 2B, 3 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 5 BB, 6 K)
Ryan Howard - 1B (22-67, 3 2B, 7 HR, 17 RBI, 12 BB, 11 K)
Domonic Brown - LF (2-7, 2B, RBI, BB, K)
Delmon Young - RF (1-1, RBI)
Ben Revere - CF (1-2, BB)
Carlos Ruiz - C (8-36, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 4 K)
Kyle Kendrick - P (2-7, 2 K)
Preview:
Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick looks to continue his dominance over the Braves on Saturday night in a critical series that'll determine if they will be buyers or sellers as the July 31st trade deadline approaches. Kendrick has not lost a start against the Braves since July 25, 2008, with a 7-1 career mark and a 2.86 ERA in 19 career appearances, including 13 starts. In Kendrick's last start against the Dodgers, he was knocked around for four runs on 10 hits, walked a batter, and struck out two in six innings which resulted in a 6-1 loss. Kendrick also sustained a concussion in that game when Dodgers pitcher Stephen Fife hit him in the head with a pitch, but was cleared to make tonight's start.
Opposing Kendrick is veteran Tim Hudson, who has the chance to break his 10-start winless streak. Hudson had his start pushed back to Saturday due to lingering neck stiffness. Braves opted to swap Hudson for lefty Paul Maholm for Friday night's series opener, giving Hudson two extra days of rest and allowing Maholm to pitch on normal rest.
Hudson won his first road start of the season April 13 in Washington, but has since lost seven straight road decisions. Braves have struggled away from Turner Field as of late, going 4-8 over their last two road trips since June 6 to drop to a lousy three games under .500 heading into their current six-game trip which spans the cities of Philadelphia and Miami. However, they've been good enough at home to preserve the largest first place lead in baseball as of Friday night.
As a starter and reliever, Kyle Kendrick has dueled with Tim Hudson five previous times in his career. Braves hold a 2-1 advantage when both pitchers are the starters and have a 4-1 advantage overall.
Gearrin optioned to Gwinnett, Ayala called up:
After spending the better part of the last two months on the disabled list with an anxiety disorder, Braves reliever Luis Ayala rejoined the Major League club before the start of this weekend's series with the Phillies. It is believed that the anxiety disorder was sparked up when Ayala found out he had high blood pressure.
Ayala replaces struggling right-hander Cory Gearrin, who had compiled a 9.90 ERA and allowed opponents to produce a .509 on-base percentage in his last 11 appearances. In six appearances with Triple-A Gwinnett, Ayala had allowed six earned runs and five walks while striking out five batters. Before his DL trip, he had made five appearances with the Braves, surrendering two earned runs and three walks after being traded from Baltimore on April 9.
Side note:
Friday's game against the Phillies began a stretch of 26 out of 41 games against NL East opponents for the Braves.
Braves C Gerald Laird and manager Fredi Gonzalez were ejected by home plate umpire Angel Hernandez last night for arguing balls and strikes in the 3rd inning after Laird "struck out" on a pitch high and above the letters. Laird was making his first start behind the plate since June 26 and did not have a single plate appearance on the recent home stand.
Dan Uggla's 27 home runs against the Phillies since 2006 are the most of any player over that span. Uggla went 2-for-4 in last night's game, including a towering three-run homer that got the Braves back into the game in the seventh inning.
Phillies RHP Cliff Lee extended his unbeaten streak to 12 starts Friday in the Phillies' 5-4 win, pitching six scoreless innings before giving up four runs in the seventh.
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