Tim Hudson, Braves battle Padres in getaway rubber game
An intriguing matchup of right-handers is in store for Thursday's series finale in San Diego when Tim Hudson and the Braves take on Mat Latos and the Padres.
It's something that only Fantasy baseball players can truly understand and appreciate. In my case, it's a double-whammy Thursday in San Diego when the Padres host the Braves to complete a three-game series.
You see, I've got Tim Hudson (0-1, 2.57) and Mat Latos (1-0, 6.00, the starting pitchers for this one, on two of my fantasy teams. The payoff when this happens can be either very sweet, very bitter, or a little of both. In this case, I'm counting on the outcome leaning more to the sweet side since the game is being played in generally-friendly Petco Park.
Lines released Wednesday afternoon suggest it will at least be pleasing for Braves fans and backers with Atlanta listed Braves as a 125-130 favorite. The total sits at 7 ½ and running chalky on the 'under' across the board.
The Padres routed the Braves in the series opener, 17-2, but last night's second game went in Atlanta's favor, 6-1. Tommy Hanson tossed six innings allowing four hits and four walks with seven strikeouts. A three-run homer by Troy Glaus in the seventh sealed it as well as 'pushed' the closing total.
Atlanta now turns to Hudson in the deciding match of this series. Hudson's first start of '10 saw the righty pitch well enough to win. That didn't pan out for either him or the Braves who fell 5-4 at San Francisco in 13 innings. Hudson worked seven, three-hit frames, striking out two and walking none in the no-decision.
He last faced the Friars in early-May 2008, and picked up the win in a 5-2 Atlanta victory. The only batter still with San Diego that played in that game is Adrian Gonzalez who is 6-for-12 lifetime versus Hudson with two long flies. His one and only career start at Petco Park was in mid-July 2006, a wild affair that saw the Braves win 15-12 in 11 innings Hudson surrendered five runs and nine hits (two homers) in his three innings of duty.
Latos made his 2010 debut on the Coors Field mound his past Saturday and also picked up a no-decision. He went six, allowed four runs and three home runs, but didn't walk anyone to help keep the long ball damage minimal. San Diego labored through 14 innings for a 5-4 win.
Latos' short career has included two assignments against the Braves, one on the road and one at home. The 6-foot-6 former start of Coconut Creek High in Florida got the win in Atlanta with seven innings of two-run ball, then no-decisioned in San Diego with seven shutout innings. The Padres managed to win that one in 12 frames, 2-1.
Mike Reilly should be south of the dish calling the pitches. He's seen plate duty twice this year, and each time the visitors and the 'over' came out on top. He worked the plate in one game at Petco in 2009, with the Padres taking a 4-3 triumph. Reilly did not call pitches in any starts by either Latos or Hudson.
Thursday's contest starts at 3:35 p.m. local time in San Diego where it's the skies should be mainly sunny. An expected afternoon high of 65ºF should be reached just about the same time as the first pitch, with WNW winds 5-10 mph (from LF across to behind the 1B bag).
The Padres continue their early nine-game homestand this weekend against the Diamondbacks. Atlanta heads home to start a six-game stand in front of the Turner Field faithful. The Rockies visit this weekend followed by a big series with the Phillies.
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they started games in the 2009 season. Statistical sources for this article were Retrosheet.org, Baseball-Reference.com, ESPN.com and, of course, S-BEE-R-dot-com!
An intriguing matchup of right-handers is in store for Thursday's series finale in San Diego when Tim Hudson and the Braves take on Mat Latos and the Padres.
It's something that only Fantasy baseball players can truly understand and appreciate. In my case, it's a double-whammy Thursday in San Diego when the Padres host the Braves to complete a three-game series.
You see, I've got Tim Hudson (0-1, 2.57) and Mat Latos (1-0, 6.00, the starting pitchers for this one, on two of my fantasy teams. The payoff when this happens can be either very sweet, very bitter, or a little of both. In this case, I'm counting on the outcome leaning more to the sweet side since the game is being played in generally-friendly Petco Park.
Lines released Wednesday afternoon suggest it will at least be pleasing for Braves fans and backers with Atlanta listed Braves as a 125-130 favorite. The total sits at 7 ½ and running chalky on the 'under' across the board.
The Padres routed the Braves in the series opener, 17-2, but last night's second game went in Atlanta's favor, 6-1. Tommy Hanson tossed six innings allowing four hits and four walks with seven strikeouts. A three-run homer by Troy Glaus in the seventh sealed it as well as 'pushed' the closing total.
Atlanta now turns to Hudson in the deciding match of this series. Hudson's first start of '10 saw the righty pitch well enough to win. That didn't pan out for either him or the Braves who fell 5-4 at San Francisco in 13 innings. Hudson worked seven, three-hit frames, striking out two and walking none in the no-decision.
He last faced the Friars in early-May 2008, and picked up the win in a 5-2 Atlanta victory. The only batter still with San Diego that played in that game is Adrian Gonzalez who is 6-for-12 lifetime versus Hudson with two long flies. His one and only career start at Petco Park was in mid-July 2006, a wild affair that saw the Braves win 15-12 in 11 innings Hudson surrendered five runs and nine hits (two homers) in his three innings of duty.
Latos made his 2010 debut on the Coors Field mound his past Saturday and also picked up a no-decision. He went six, allowed four runs and three home runs, but didn't walk anyone to help keep the long ball damage minimal. San Diego labored through 14 innings for a 5-4 win.
Latos' short career has included two assignments against the Braves, one on the road and one at home. The 6-foot-6 former start of Coconut Creek High in Florida got the win in Atlanta with seven innings of two-run ball, then no-decisioned in San Diego with seven shutout innings. The Padres managed to win that one in 12 frames, 2-1.
Mike Reilly should be south of the dish calling the pitches. He's seen plate duty twice this year, and each time the visitors and the 'over' came out on top. He worked the plate in one game at Petco in 2009, with the Padres taking a 4-3 triumph. Reilly did not call pitches in any starts by either Latos or Hudson.
Thursday's contest starts at 3:35 p.m. local time in San Diego where it's the skies should be mainly sunny. An expected afternoon high of 65ºF should be reached just about the same time as the first pitch, with WNW winds 5-10 mph (from LF across to behind the 1B bag).
The Padres continue their early nine-game homestand this weekend against the Diamondbacks. Atlanta heads home to start a six-game stand in front of the Turner Field faithful. The Rockies visit this weekend followed by a big series with the Phillies.
NOTE: The W-L records shown for starting pitchers are their team's W-L mark when they started games in the 2009 season. Statistical sources for this article were Retrosheet.org, Baseball-Reference.com, ESPN.com and, of course, S-BEE-R-dot-com!
