Braves Open Home Stand with the Diamondbacks, Series Preview

Source: Yardbarker.com

Atlanta Braves (16-18) vs Arizona Diamondbacks  (14-21)

Turner Field, Atlanta Georgia

Pitching Matchups

5/14 – Kenshin Kawakami (0-6, 5.73) vs Ian Kennedy (2-2, 3.48)

5/15 – Tommy Hanson (3-2,2.30) vs Rodrigo Lopez (1-2, 4.30)

5/16 – Tim Hudson (3-1, 2.64) vs Dan Haren (4-2, 4.23)

Significant Braves injuries

Yunel Escobar – Expected to be activated for Saturday’s game

Jair Jurrjens – 15 Day Disabled List – Hamstring

Chipper Jones – Day to Day – Groin

Series Preview

The Braves return home from a long road trip riding a three game winning streak and feeling a lot better about themselves. The offense awakened during the Milwaukee series and they are starting to get somewhat healthy with Jason Heyward returning while in Milwaukee and Yunel Escobar expected to return on Saturday. Eric Hinske and Troy Glaus along with Heyward have jump started this Braves offense to the tune of 28 runs and 35 hits in their last three games.

The Diamondbacks come in scuffling losers of their last six games and seven of their last ten. Former Braves Kelly Johnson (.269 10HR 21RBI) and Adam LaRoche (.257 4HR 23RBI) return to Turner Field for the first time. The Braves send struggling starter Kenshin Kawakami to the mound in the first game and follow with Tommy Hanson on Saturday with Tim Hudson facing off against Diamondbacks ace Dan Haren on Sunday. A sweep would be really nice as it would put the Braves back over the .500 mark but we really should just focus on winning series so two out of three is the goal. A good start is really needed from Kawakami as the pressure may be on him to keep his spot in the rotation once Jair Jurrjens returns from injury.

First pitch tonight is scheduled at 7:35 pm. It is the first night of seven consecutive games at Turner Field.