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Pirates vs.Braves (July 27)

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Atlanta Braves are both in the thick of things in the National League playoff race and will close out a four-game series Thursday night at Turner Field.  The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
(ET).

Pittsburgh dropped a 4-3 contest Tuesday night in this series due to a terrible call by home plate umpire Jerry Meals, which ended a 19-inning affair at 2 a.m. ET.  The Pirates clubhouse was less-than-enthused by the way things finished.

"There's always controversial calls that are really, really close," said Pirates starting pitcher Jeff Karstens.  "But I've never seen anything that bad."

The game ended up being the longest in the 125-year history of the franchise, lasting 6 hours and 39 minutes in length.  Six relievers were used in the final 13 1/3 innings, as the group is currently ranked fourth in the majors with a 2.96 ERA.

Kevin Correia (11-8, 4.38 ERA) will look to snap a personal two-game losing streak, as he's allowed 15 runs and 22 hits over his last three outings. The right-hander surrendered a season-high seven runs last time out versus the Cardinals at home.

Correia has been a dynamo away from PNC Park, posting a dominating 9-2 record and 2.85 ERA in 12 road starts, limiting opposing batters to a .218 average.

In eight career starts versus the Braves, the 30-year-old has tallied an even 1-1 mark and 4.56 ERA, but has yet to record a decision at Turner Field.  He has given up three runs and 10 hits in 9 2/3 frames at the venue
in three appearances (two starts)

Bettors will find that the 'over' has cashed in his last six starts overall.

Atlanta may have won the marathon, but it's lost one of its starts for a couple weeks with catcher Brian McCann going on the 15-day disabled list. He was enjoying the best year of his career, hitting .306 with 18 home runs and 55 RBI.

The Braves have won the fourth-most games in the National League at home, including victories in 13 of their last 16 games at Turner Field.

Derek Lowe (6-8, 4.49 ERA) is surviving with wins in three of his last five starts, but his ERA has also moved from 4.16 to its current place over that span.  He will be pitching at home for the first time since July 5, coming in off an 11-2 defeat in Cincinnati, allowing four runs and six hits over five innings.

Few stats will jump out as much as Lowe's career record against the Pirates, coming in with a perfect 10-0 mark and 2.64 ERA.  That mark includes a perfect 3-0 record and 2.00 ERA in three outings last year.

Home plate umpire Dan Iassogna has led home teams to a 14-7 record this year and the 'under' is 12-9 in those contests. Weather forecasts suggest game-time highs in the mid-80s with a 30 percent chance of isolated thunderstorms.  The wind will be out of a south-southwest direction at 5-10 mph  (out to center).  The 'under' is a perfect 5-0 when given those conditions at Turner Field.=