Atlanta @ Chicago preview
Guaranteed Rate Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 3, 2010 ) Chi. White Sox 12, Atlanta 4
The Atlanta Braves have used interleague play to grab hold of first place in the NL East.
The Chicago White Sox have used it to climb back to .500 in hopes of a second-half surge up the standings in the AL Central.
The two teams meet at U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday for the start of a three-game series.
Atlanta has built a 2 1/2-game lead over the New York Mets thanks in part to a 7-2 record against the American League. The Braves have won 19 of their last 26 games - including a weekend sweep of the lowly Kansas City Royals.
Known historically for their pitching, the Braves have rising star Tommy Hanson on the hill Tuesday.
Hanson has dominated at times during his first full season in the big leagues. He is 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in his last five starts since getting drilled by the Cincinnati Reds in a loss on May 20.
Since then, Hanson hasn’t allowed more than two runs in any start - highlighted by his seven shutout innings against the Tampa Bay Rays in his most recent outing. Hanson’s interleague numbers this season are dazzling as well. He is 4-0 with a 0.75 ERA.
The Braves have also been lifted lately by their offense. Troy Glaus has six homers and 18 RBIs since the start of June, while Martin Prado is batting .383 this month.
The White Sox, meanwhile, have feasted on weaker opponents of late. They have successfully rebounded from a miserable start to win 10 of their last 11 and pull within 7 1/2 games of the division-leading Twins.
With a victory on Tuesday, Chicago can move above .500 for the first time since Opening Day, when it defeated the Cleveland Indians before losing its next four straight.
For all their recent winning, the White Sox still only have one player – Alex Rios – who is batting above .300 for the season. But four regulars – Juan Pierre, A.J. Pierzynski, Gordon Beckham and Carlos Quentin – are all batting below .250.
Chicago has kept winning, though, because of guys like lefty John Danks, who will join Hanson in a duel of two of the best young pitchers in the game.
Danks has won his last two starts by allowing two earned runs in 15 innings. His ERA is a solid 3.18, but eliminate his one lousy start this year - when he allowed eight runs in four innings in a May 29 loss to the Rays - and it drops to a sparkling 2.44.