The San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves are both in the National League playoff hunt and begin a crucial four-game series Monday night at Turner Field
San Francisco enters off two-straight wins over the Florida Marlins on the road and will begin the week two games up in the NL West standings. The Giants picked up a 5-2 win Sunday afternoon, moving their record to 41-6 when scoring four or more runs. It was also an important victory due to breaking a string of four consecutive losing series. Offensively, the club is still near the bottom of most categories, including scoring the second-fewest runs in all of baseball. San Francisco is 31-30 on the road this season and 47-32 when playing under the lights.
Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner is 7-11 with a 3.53 ERA in 24 starts this season and is aiming to win back-to-back outings. The left-hander tallied a 6-0 home victory over the Pirates last time out, tossing seven shutout frames and registering 10 strikeouts. Bumgarner has tallied a losing 3-5 mark and 3.06 ERA in 11 road outings, surrendering just three home runs in 67 2/3 frames. He will be making just his second career start versus the Braves, dropping a 4-1 home contest on April 22, giving up four runs (three earned) and four hits over 2 2/3 innings.
Atlanta is virtually aiming for the Wild Card spot due to being nine games back of Philadelphia in the NL East division. Despite owning the second-best record in the NL and fourth-best mark in the majors, the club finds itself the most games back in the standings of any second-place team in baseball. The Braves currently hold a 5.5-game advantage on the Cardinals for the fourth and final playoff spot. Atlanta is 18-17 versus left-handed starters this year and 77-69 over the last three campaigns.
Braves starting pitcher Tim Hudson is 12-7 with a 3.18 ERA in 24 starts this season and will be looking to win a fourth-straight decision. The right-hander has allowed four runs and 15 hits over a span of 21 1/3 innings in those three outings. Hudson will be making his 15th start at home, bringing in a 7-4 record and 2.71 ERA, as opponents are hitting .212 against him. In 14 lifetime appearances versus the Giants, the veteran is 6-4 with a 3.43 ERA, including a 5-2 road win on April 23, giving up two runs and nine hits over 8 2/3 frames.
At the time of this writing, the Atlanta Braves are a -154 home favorite and the total stands at 7 Under (-120).