Florida @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2010 ) Florida 3, Atlanta 4
The red-hot Atlanta Braves, it seems, can only be slowed by the All-Star break.
Tommy Hanson, however, is one member of the team that probably wishes the Midsummer Classic would come sooner.
The struggling Hanson takes the hill Saturday for the NL East-leading Braves, who are seeking a third straight win against the Florida Marlins.
The Braves, who lost nine straight at one point, have surged to the top of the division by posting a major league-best 34-15 mark since May 10. Much of their success can be traced to their outstanding play at home.
Atlanta has won 19 of its last 22 games at Turner Field and owns a league-best 29-9 record there. The Braves stayed hot at home on Friday with a 4-3 win as Omar Infante hit a walk-off single in the 11th inning.
Aside from their stellar play at home, the Braves’ surprising first half can be largely attributed to a break-out year from second baseman Martin Prado.
Prado went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs in Friday’s victory. He is hitting an NL-best .337 and leads the majors with 114 hits. The fifth-year veteran may be heading to his first All-Star Game in less than two weeks.
Hanson, meanwhile, won’t be in Anaheim on July 13.
The 23-year-old is just hoping to end the first half on a positive note after two terrible outings. Hanson has allowed 14 runs over his last two starts, failing to get out of the fourth inning each time.
On Sunday, he allowed five earned runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 10-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers. The right-hander has fared well against Florida, though, going 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts against the Marlins.
Florida, which is 3-6 under manager Edwin Rodriguez, counters with Anibal Sanchez (7-4, 3.18).
The right-hander allowed one earned run and four hits in six innings, but did not receive a decision in a 4-2 loss to the San Diego Padres on Sunday.
Sanchez is 4-5 with a 4.50 ERA in 10 starts against the Braves.
He won’t have to face National League Rookie of the Year candidate Jason Heyward, who is on the disabled list with a thumb injury.
Heyward isn’t the only candidate for award, though.
Florida’s Gaby Sanchez is quietly challenging him for the honor. Sanchez homered on Friday and is hitting .305 – tops among National League rookies- with nine home runs and 38 RBIs.
Sanchez and the Marlins have lost the last three meeting between the teams.