GAME PREVIEW
Houston Astros (9-13) at Atlanta Braves (10-11)
Pitching matchup: Mike Hampton (2-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. Derek Lowe (2-1, 3.10 ERA)
Time: 7:35 p.m. EDT
Location: Turner Field, Atlanta
TV: Peachtree TV Radio: 640 WGST
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 75 degrees
Twitter: Tomahawk Take
Following another series loss that saw Braves (10-11) bats perplexed by solid pitching, Atlanta will press on with their current eight-game home stand to begin a three-game set with the Houston Astros (9-13) tonight.
Facing the Braves for the first time since signing a free-agent contract with the Astros this past off-season will be former friend (or foe, depending on how you look at it) Mike Hampton (2-0, 3.86 ERA).
Hampton, the former $44.5 million southpaw who made just 25 starts from 2005-2008 because of elbow and back problems with the Braves, has pitched quite well in the first month of the 2009 season. In arguably his worst outing this past Saturday, Hampton was hit for a season-high four run in six innings of work and was pinned with the no decision. On the road this season, Hampton is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA and has given up just three runs in over 11 innings.
He’ll face the Braves for the 21st time in his career — a stretch where he holds a 4-9 record with a 4.22 ERA.
Chipper Jones, in particular, has destroyed Hampton. In 50 career at-bat versus his former teammate, Jones has 19 hits inlcuding one home run, six RBIs and just one strikeout.
Derek Lowe (2-1, 3.10 ERA) will make the start for Atlanta. The right-hander picked up his first victory in his last four starts this past Saturday, when he held the Cincinnati Reds to two runs in seven innings of work. Lowe’s heralded sinker returned in fine fashion after suffering through location problems with the pitch in his previous two outings.
Against the Astros, Lowe carries a career 2-3 record with a 3.15 ERA. In his only start against Houston last season with the Dodgers, he surrendered six run in 5 1/3 innings.
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