Florida @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 3, 2010 ) Florida 1, Atlanta 4
Tim Hudson's back to his old dominating ways. And there are few teams he’s enjoyed facing more than the Florida Marlins.
Hudson looks to continue his mastery of the Marlins on Sunday and help the Braves finish another successful homestand with a sweep.
A 12-year veteran, Hudson (8-3, 2.37 ERA) has been one of the best pitchers over the last decade, compiling a mark of 156-81 with a 3.43 ERA with Oakland and Atlanta.
But he made just 23 starts in 2008 and eventually underwent Tommy John surgery, forcing him to miss most of last season.
Fully recovered, the 34-year-old right-hander is making a case for his third All-Star appearance this season. Hudson has the fifth-best ERA in baseball and opponents are batting a measly .222 against him.
“He’s back,” third baseman Chipper Jones told the Braves’ official website. “He’s in complete control out there. He’s got his velocity back.”
Indeed, Hudson is back. On Monday, he allowed just five hits in seven innings of a 5-0 win over Washington.
Hudson now seeks a sixth straight win at Turner Field, where the Braves improved to 30-9 with a 4-1 victory on Saturday. Tommy Hanson pitched into the seventh inning and Gregor Blanco drove in a pair of runs.
The win pushed the Braves to a season-high 15 games over .500 and, combined with the New York Mets’ loss, gave them a three-game lead in the National League East.
Hudson will try to help the Braves improve to 7-2 on their nine-game homestand against the Marlins, who are one of his favorite opponents.
He is 8-2 with a 2.99 ERA in 16 starts against Florida. In his lone start against the Marlins this season, Hudson received a no-decision after allowing two runs and five hits in four innings of a game delayed by rain on May 27.
He will be opposed by Ricky Nolasco (7-6, 4.84), who the Marlins hope can put an end to their three-game skid. Nolasco also opposed Hudson on May 27 and allowed three runs and eight hits in four innings. He is just 3-5 with a 4.57 ERA in 13 games – 12 starts – vs. Atlanta.
Nolasco is pitching well at the moment, however. He won his second straight start on Monday by allowing three runs and four hits in seven innings of a 10-3 victory over the Mets.
Nolasco could be trade bait as the deadline approaches and the Marlins' season is slowly slipping away. They are 10 1/2 games back of the Braves and haven’t received any sort of boost from their managerial change.
Florida is 3-7 under Edwin Rodriguez, who replaced Fredi Gonzalez on June 23.