[Renojaguar]

GAME 1
Impressive starting pitching this month has kept the Atlanta Braves in control of the NL East. A big reason Atlanta has a two-game division lead even with second-place Philadelphia on a 17-5 tear is a rotation which has a 1.60 ERA in 13 games this month. The club's starters are 5-2 in August the bullpen blew three other potential wins while holding opponents to a .210 average. Jair Jurjjens will get the call for the Tomahawks. Only once in August has a Braves starter given up more than three runs and Jurrjens hasn't done that at home in more than a year heading into a matchup with the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. Jurrjens (4-4, 4.16 ERA) has gone 4-1 with a 3.14 ERA in eight starts since missing two months with a strained hamstring. He's pitched into the seventh inning in five of his last six, including 7 1/3 innings Tuesday as he gave up two runs one earned without getting a decision in a 4-2 win at Houston. The Braves have won all six of his home outings this season as the right-hander has gone 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA. He's made 12 consecutive starts at Turner Field without surrendering more than three runs. That streak dates back to his last outing against Los Angeles on Aug. 2, 2009, when he was tagged for four runs and 10 hits in five innings of a 9-1 loss.
It has been a different story for the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have not scored more than three runs in 17 of its last 23 games. Los Angeles was shut out for the second time in three games Friday as Braves ace Tim Hudson went eight innings, then scored once in six innings against Derek Lowe on Saturday but won 2-1. The Dodgers (60-57) snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday and won for the third time in 15 road games. Vicente Padilla (6-3, 3.32) has a winning record, but has had his share of problems on the road, posting a 5.14 ERA. He hadn't allowed more than two runs in eight straight starts until Tuesday, when he gave up four runs in five innings but beat Philadelphia in a 15-9 victory. Torre made a major move this week in an effort to help the Dodgers' dim playoff hopes, replacing the struggling Jonathan Broxton with Hong-Chih Kuo as closer. Kuo worked a perfect ninth to save Saturday's game and said he could pitch again Sunday, though Torre is wary of using him on consecutive days and expects Octavio Dotel to serve as closer. Too many problems going on with Torre and Dodgers to take them in this spot. The Road has not been kind to Padilla or the Dodgers this year. Backing the Braves here with Jurjjens on the hill.

1* ATLANTA BRAVES -136

[Renojaguar]

I may play the Sunday night game don't know yet
GAME 2
Hoping to avoid becoming the first team in nearly three months to lose a home series to the Detroit Tigers, the White Sox send Freddy Garcia to the mound against his favorite opponent in Sunday's series finale. Garcia lasted only 2 1/3 innings Tuesday in a 12-6 loss to the Twins, allowing six runs and eight hits, three of them homers. Although he was 7-1 in his previous 12 starts, the right-hander failed to complete three innings for the second time in four outings. Garcia (10-5, 4.90 ERA), who should be happy to see the Tigers after a miserable performance. The veteran is 3-0 with a 2.75 ERA in three starts this season against Detroit and 18-5 with a 3.66 ERA in 29 career outings, including 9-1 in the last 12. The 18 wins are his most versus any opponent.
Chicago was headed for its second straight win in this series Saturday night, but Alex Avila hit a two-run homer off substitute closer J.J. Putz in the ninth inning to give Detroit a 3-2 victory. Although the White Sox are a major league-best 41-19 since June 9, they have lost six of nine to drop two games behind Central-leading Minnesota. Even their play at home has suffered lately. Chicago has lost four of seven at U.S. Cellular Field after a 19-1 stretch there.
Detroit won for only the second time in 15 road games and gave itself a chance to end a string of 10 straight road series losses dating to a two-game sweep at Oakland in May.Armando Galarraga (3-5, 4.48) looks to end a personal four-game losing streak for Detroit. The right-hander is 0-4 with a 5.31 ERA in seven starts since beating the Mets on June 24. He has only one win in 11 outings since nearly throwing a perfect game June 2.Poor control was an issue again Monday in a 6-3 loss to Tampa Bay as Galarraga allowed four runs, five hits and four walks over five innings. He had five walks against Chicago on Aug. 4 as he gave up four runs in 7 2/3 innings of a 4-1 loss.Galarraga is 0-1 with a 5.60 ERA in his last three road starts against the White Sox, and Paul Konerko is 6 for 11 with a homer and two doubles against him. I have to say no matter how much Garcia has struggles lately he owns the Tigers and their road record along with Gallaraga recent slump puts the White Sox in the drivers seat here.
1* CHICAGO WHITE SOX -143