New York @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 2, 2010 ) NY Mets 1, Atlanta 4
Even in a year when he hasn't had his best stuff, Atlanta Braves veteran pitcher Derek Lowe usually has found a way to win at Turner Field.
Kind of like the Braves.
Atlanta looks to pad its major league-leading 35-13 home record - and its NL East lead - when Lowe takes the mound on Tuesday in the second game of a key series against the New York Mets.
The Braves extended their division lead to three games over the Philadelphia Phillies by winning Monday's series opener, 4-1, behind a solid start from Tim Hudson. Now Atlanta hopes to get a similar performance from Lowe, who is 7-3 with a 4.15 ERA in 10 home starts this season.
Lowe (10-9, 4.58 ERA) could use the home-field advantage. He has lost four of his last five decisions - the only win during that span was at home against the Milwaukee Brewers - and he has lasted six innings or longer only once during that stretch.
One of those losses was to the Mets, who have beaten Lowe twice this season. The 37-year-old right-hander allowed three runs over seven innings in a 3-2 loss May 17 in Atlanta and gave up two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 3-0 loss July 11 in New York.
Lowe's struggles against the Mets are nothing new - he's 3-5 with a 6.61 ERA in 15 appearances (nine starts) against them in his career. Mets third baseman David Wright has contributed to those struggles, going 8-for-22 (.364) against Lowe.
The Mets' road woes have dragged them to the cusp of falling out of the NL East race. They're 2-10 on the road since the All-Star break and have fallen 7 1/2 games behind Atlanta.
The Mets turn to 35-year-old right-hander R.A. Dickey on Tuesday, hoping he can help turn things around by continuing his surprisingly strong performance since being called up from Triple-A Buffalo on May 19.
Dickey (7-4, 2.32 ERA) won his first six decisions with the Mets before a stretch of poor run support caused him to hit a lull, but he has regained his dominant form lately.
The fireballer turned knuckleballer hasn't allowed a run in his last two starts, running his career-best scoreless streak to 17 innings. He shut out the Cardinals for 8 1/3 innings Thursday in New York, holding them to four hits and two walks to pick up his first win since June 23.
The Braves are one of few teams to hit Dickey well this season. They tagged him for four runs - three earned - on nine hits over 6 2/3 innings in a 4-2 victory July 9 at Citi Field. Melky Cabrera and Omar Infante hit home runs off Dickey in the Braves' 4-2 win that night.
The Braves placed All-Star second baseman Martin Prado on the disabled list Monday because of a fractured right pinkie suffered Friday in Cincinnati.
Fellow All-Star Omar Infante has filled in admirably at second and in the leadoff spot. He has five consecutive multi-hit games and is 11-or-22 during that stretch.