Atlanta @ Minnesota preview
Target Field
Last Meeting ( Jun 12, 2010 ) Atlanta 3, Minnesota 2
Starting in place of the injured Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta's Kris Medlen has made a seamless transition from the bullpen to the rotation.
His next challenge is going to be a tough one.
Medlen looks to continue his string of strong outings Sunday as he leads the Braves against Kevin Slowey and the Minnesota Twins in the finale of their three-game interleague series.
Medlen (3-1) was pressed into service more than a month ago after Jurrjens suffered a strained left hamstring. He has made six starts for Atlanta, posting a 2-0 record while pitching into the sixth inning in each of his last five outings. The Braves are 5-1 in games started by Medlen.
His last start was his shakiest since joining the rotation. Medlen surrendered four runs on five hits in five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing three home runs in the process. The Braves got him off the hook, scoring single runs in each of the final four innings to escape with a 7-5 win.
Medlen will likely have to be at his best today as he takes on one of the hottest pitchers in the American League.
Slowey (7-3) has put more than his share of zeroes on the board of late, limiting opponents to just two runs over his previous 20 2-3 innings. Over his last four starts, the 26-year-old has lowered his ERA from 4.70 to 3.45 while going 2-0 with a pair of no-decisions over that span.
His previous outing was his strongest of the season, as the veteran right-hander limited Kansas City to three hits over seven scoreless innings in a 7-3 victory over the Royals. He has faced the Braves once in his career, going 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA.
The teams split the first two games of the series, with the Braves pulling out Saturday's victory in style. Brooks Conrad executed a perfect squeeze bunt in the ninth inning as Atlanta defeated Minnesota 3-2 in front of more than 40,000 at Target Field.
Atlanta has fared better at Minnesota's new stadium than they did at the old one. The Braves won just two of 10 games at the fabled Metrodome, losing there four times in a memorable 1991 World Series won by the Twins in seven games.
While it may be a long shot to see the same two teams battle in the Fall Classic 19 years later, the Braves and Twins are doing well so far this season.
Atlanta has a 1 1/2-game lead on the New York Mets atop the National League East, while the Twins enjoy a 3 1/2-game advantage over the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central.
Both teams have hitters challenging for league batting titles. Minnesota star Justin Morneau's .357 average has him behind Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano (.371) in the American League, while Atlanta's Martin Prado (.326) sits second in the NL, behind only Chicago Cubs outfielder Marlon Byrd (.336).