Detroit @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Apr 1, 2010 ) Atlanta 1, Detroit 4
The previously red-hot Atlanta Braves are in the midst of their longest losing streak in two months, but there is reason to be optimistic it will end soon.
Atlanta, which has the best home winning percentage in baseball, is headed back to Turner Field to face one of the worst road teams in the majors.
The National League East-leading Braves return to their comfort zone Friday when they open a nine-game homestand against the Detroit Tigers.
After a mediocre start, Atlanta has surged to the top of the NL East by going a major league-best 34-17 since April 30.
But the Braves were cooled off by the equally hot Chicago White Sox earlier this week. Atlanta was swept by Chicago, which has won nine straight and 13 of 14.
On Thursday, NL Rookie of the Year candidate Jason Heyward and company were held to a mere two hits in a 2-0 loss. Now, the Braves are on their longest losing streak since a nine-game skid that preceded their hot streak.
They should bounce back at Turner Field, though, where they’ve won 14 of 15 and sport a sparkling .774 winning percentage (24-7).
As good as the Braves have been at home, the Tigers have been just as bad on the road.
Detroit is just a half-game behind the Minnesota Twins (40-32) in the American League Central, but would be in first place if not for its road struggles. The Tigers are just 14-21 away from Comerica Park this season.
They had been outscored 37-9 in four straight road losses before salving the final game of their series with the New York Mets on Thursday. Magglio Ordonez and Ryan Raburn each homered in a 6-5 win.
Ordonez has been scorching hot lately. He went 2-for-5 Thursday and is batting .385 (44-for-114) with six home runs and 26 RBIs since May 13.
Kris Medlen (4-1, 3.33 ERA) has the unenviable task of taming Ordonez. The converted reliever is 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA in seven starts since taking over for the injured Jair Jurrjens on May 18.
He will be opposed by Andrew Oliver, one of the Tigers’ top pitching prospects who will be making his major league debut. Oliver, 22, is taking the place of Rick Porcello, who was optioned to the minors last week after going 4-7 with a 6.14 ERA.
A second-round pick in 2009, Oliver went 6-4 with a 3.61 ERA in 77 1/3 innings with Double-A Erie.
His name may ring a bell to some fans. He made headlines two years ago when he was suspended by the NCAA during Oklahoma State’s College World Series run for improper dealings with an agent.