Pirates at Braves
Atlanta welcomes a grizzled face back to its youthful starting rotation when Tim Hudson makes his season debut against Pittsburgh. The 36-year-old veteran right-hander underwent spinal fusion surgery last fall to alleviate pain in his back. The Braves’ young rotation has fared just fine with Atlanta winning 13 of its past 17 games. The Pirates had scored two runs or fewer in seven of their past 10 games, but put three runs on the board in the first two innings Saturday en route to a 4-2 victory.
Still, Pittsburgh’s offense continues to sputter. The Pirates have yet to score more than five runs in a game and rank 28th out of 30 major league teams in batting average (.223). But pitching has kept the Pirates afloat through the first 20 games. Pittsburgh ranks third in the majors in ERA (2.74). The Braves have used the speed of Michael Bourn and Jason Heyward to energize their offense. Both rank in the top five in the majors in steals, and Heyward is a perfect 8-for-8 in stolen-base attempts.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), SportSouth (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pittsburgh RH Kevin Correia (1-0, ERA 2.00) vs. Atlanta RH Tim Hudson (2011: 16-10, ERA 3.22)
Correia experienced discomfort in his left oblique and was scratched April 21. Three days later, Correia fired six solid innings in a no-decision at Colorado, allowing two earned runs with no walks and four strikeouts. The 2011 All-Star has a WHIP of 0.78 and is averaging 1.5 walks per nine innings.
Hudson threw 110 pitches for Triple-A Gwinnett in the final of four rehab starts, and allowed one earned run in 10 2/3 innings in two games for the Braves’ top minor-league affiliate. Hudson missed most of 2009 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He won 33 games while making 67 starts in 2010-11, winning National League Comeback Player of the Year in 2010.
WALK-OFFS
1. Correia gave up three hits in the first inning in his last start, then gave up one hit in his final 5 2/3 innings.
2. Atlanta catcher Brian McCann did not play Saturday after suffering a pulled ribcage muscle Friday. The Braves indicated they hope McCann can return for Monday’s series finale.
3. Pittsburgh pitching struck out 14 Braves in Saturday’s victory.