Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals mlb live streaming baseball online broadcast major league ESPN Star tv April 03, 2011 Finally healthy following Tommy John surgery, Tim Hudson had one of his best seasons in 2010 for the Atlanta Braves.
Washington's Jordan Zimmermann could use a breakout 2011 after his first two big league campaigns were cut short due to that same elbow procedure.
Both right-handers make their season debuts Sunday when the Braves and Nationals complete a three-game series in the nation's capital.
Hudson went 17-9 with a 2.83 ERA and 139 strikeouts last season after missing the final two months of 2008 and most of 2009 following elbow ligament replacement surgery. Hudson was named an NL All-Star for the first time in 2010, and he won the league's comeback player of the year award while finishing fourth in the Cy Young Award voting.
WATCH Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals NOW
"You sit out a year and see your teammates out there and competing -- you get that hunger and drive to get back out there and help your team win," Hudson told the Braves' official website. "Coming back last year was a lot of fun. It was great to feel healthy again."
Gameday Lineups
NO. Atlanta Washington
1. M. Prado, LF I. Desmond, SS
2. N. McLouth, CF J. Werth, RF
3. C. Jones, 3B R. Zimmerman, 3B
4. B. McCann, C A. LaRoche, 1B
5. D. Uggla, 2B M. Morse, LF
6. J. Heyward, RF R. Ankiel, CF
7. A. Gonzalez, SS D. Espinosa, 2B
8. F. Freeman, 1B I. Rodriguez, C
9. T. Hudson, P J. Zimmermann, P
1:35 PM ET, April 3, 2011
Nationals Park, Washington, D.C
Finally healthy following Tommy John surgery, Tim Hudson had one of his best seasons in 2010 for the Atlanta Braves.
Washington's Jordan Zimmermann could use a breakout 2011 after his first two big league campaigns were cut short due to that same elbow procedure.
Both right-handers make their season debuts Sunday when the Braves and Nationals complete a three-game series in the nation's capital.
Hudson went 17-9 with a 2.83 ERA and 139 strikeouts last season after missing the final two months of 2008 and most of 2009 following elbow ligament replacement surgery. Hudson was named an NL All-Star for the first time in 2010, and he won the league's comeback player of the year award while finishing fourth in the Cy Young Award voting.
"You sit out a year and see your teammates out there and competing -- you get that hunger and drive to get back out there and help your team win," Hudson told the Braves' official website. "Coming back last year was a lot of fun. It was great to feel healthy again."
The Nationals can't be thrilled to face Hudson, who is 10-2 with a 1.91 ERA in 18 starts against the franchise, but the team has to feel good about having a healthy Zimmermann taking the ball.
The young right-hander didn't make his first appearance last season until August 26 after Tommy John surgery ended his 2009 rookie season following 16 starts.
Zimmermann, 1-2 with a 4.94 ERA in 2010, pitched well this spring, striking out 15 in 23 innings and going 2-2 with a 3.91 ERA in six starts.
Zimmermann, 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts against Atlanta, made his major league debut at home April 20, 2009, versus the Braves -- a 3-2 Nationals victory.
He'll try to help Washington win its fourth straight home series in this NL East matchup following Saturday's 6-3 victory.
Newcomer Rick Ankiel, who spent 47 games with the Braves in 2010 after being acquired from Kansas City, helped Washington bounce back from Thursday's 2-0 season-opening loss with a two-run homer and suicide squeeze that scored Ryan Zimmerman in the seventh.
Washington had just two homers and 31 RBIs out of the center fielder spot last season.
"I don't want to put any numbers on it," said manager Jim Riggleman. "When (Rick) was at his best, his healthiest, he was able to do some good things."
In his first series since tearing his left ACL on Aug. 10, Braves third baseman Chipper Jones is 4 for 9 with an RBI. He has a triple in three at-bats versus Zimmermann.
Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos had three singles Saturday, but Ivan Rodriguez will likely be behind the plate Sunday. His .444 batting average (16 for 36) is the best all-time against Hudson among players with more than 26 at-bats versus the right-hander.
Atlanta's last series win in Washington was a three-game sweep Sept. 25-27, 2009.
Washington's Jordan Zimmermann could use a breakout 2011 after his first two big league campaigns were cut short due to that same elbow procedure.
Both right-handers make their season debuts Sunday when the Braves and Nationals complete a three-game series in the nation's capital.
Hudson went 17-9 with a 2.83 ERA and 139 strikeouts last season after missing the final two months of 2008 and most of 2009 following elbow ligament replacement surgery. Hudson was named an NL All-Star for the first time in 2010, and he won the league's comeback player of the year award while finishing fourth in the Cy Young Award voting.
WATCH Atlanta Braves vs Washington Nationals NOW
"You sit out a year and see your teammates out there and competing -- you get that hunger and drive to get back out there and help your team win," Hudson told the Braves' official website. "Coming back last year was a lot of fun. It was great to feel healthy again."
Gameday Lineups
NO. Atlanta Washington
1. M. Prado, LF I. Desmond, SS
2. N. McLouth, CF J. Werth, RF
3. C. Jones, 3B R. Zimmerman, 3B
4. B. McCann, C A. LaRoche, 1B
5. D. Uggla, 2B M. Morse, LF
6. J. Heyward, RF R. Ankiel, CF
7. A. Gonzalez, SS D. Espinosa, 2B
8. F. Freeman, 1B I. Rodriguez, C
9. T. Hudson, P J. Zimmermann, P
1:35 PM ET, April 3, 2011
Nationals Park, Washington, D.C
Finally healthy following Tommy John surgery, Tim Hudson had one of his best seasons in 2010 for the Atlanta Braves.
Washington's Jordan Zimmermann could use a breakout 2011 after his first two big league campaigns were cut short due to that same elbow procedure.
Both right-handers make their season debuts Sunday when the Braves and Nationals complete a three-game series in the nation's capital.
Hudson went 17-9 with a 2.83 ERA and 139 strikeouts last season after missing the final two months of 2008 and most of 2009 following elbow ligament replacement surgery. Hudson was named an NL All-Star for the first time in 2010, and he won the league's comeback player of the year award while finishing fourth in the Cy Young Award voting.
"You sit out a year and see your teammates out there and competing -- you get that hunger and drive to get back out there and help your team win," Hudson told the Braves' official website. "Coming back last year was a lot of fun. It was great to feel healthy again."
The Nationals can't be thrilled to face Hudson, who is 10-2 with a 1.91 ERA in 18 starts against the franchise, but the team has to feel good about having a healthy Zimmermann taking the ball.
The young right-hander didn't make his first appearance last season until August 26 after Tommy John surgery ended his 2009 rookie season following 16 starts.
Zimmermann, 1-2 with a 4.94 ERA in 2010, pitched well this spring, striking out 15 in 23 innings and going 2-2 with a 3.91 ERA in six starts.
Zimmermann, 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts against Atlanta, made his major league debut at home April 20, 2009, versus the Braves -- a 3-2 Nationals victory.
He'll try to help Washington win its fourth straight home series in this NL East matchup following Saturday's 6-3 victory.
Newcomer Rick Ankiel, who spent 47 games with the Braves in 2010 after being acquired from Kansas City, helped Washington bounce back from Thursday's 2-0 season-opening loss with a two-run homer and suicide squeeze that scored Ryan Zimmerman in the seventh.
Washington had just two homers and 31 RBIs out of the center fielder spot last season.
"I don't want to put any numbers on it," said manager Jim Riggleman. "When (Rick) was at his best, his healthiest, he was able to do some good things."
In his first series since tearing his left ACL on Aug. 10, Braves third baseman Chipper Jones is 4 for 9 with an RBI. He has a triple in three at-bats versus Zimmermann.
Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos had three singles Saturday, but Ivan Rodriguez will likely be behind the plate Sunday. His .444 batting average (16 for 36) is the best all-time against Hudson among players with more than 26 at-bats versus the right-hander.
Atlanta's last series win in Washington was a three-game sweep Sept. 25-27, 2009.
