Atlanta Braves vs Houston Astros MLB Live Streaming 5/10 Baseball Radio Commmentary Station Live American National Ticket Experts Review: Due mostly to superb pitching, the Atlanta Braves are on the verge of their first four-game road winning streak of the season.
Hudson looks to continue his dominance of the last-place Astros when he takes the mound in the opener of this four-game wraparound series Friday night.
Atlanta (35-28), 4-2 on its 10-game road trip, compiled a 1.29 ERA -- 0.92 from the rotation -- while sweeping a three-game series in Florida, capped by Thursday's 3-2 victory.
The Braves, who outscored the Marlins 7-4 in the series, haven't won four in a row on the road since Sept. 8-19. Giving Hudson (4-5, 4.14 ERA) the ball seems to be a good way to accomplish that feat again.
Hudson is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA in five career starts against the Astros (24-39), but hasn't faced them at Minute Maid Park since allowing two runs in eight innings of a 4-2 victory June 10, 2006.
The right-hander has struggled since tossing a one-hitter in an 8-0 win over Milwaukee on May 4, going 0-3 with a 6.66 ERA in five starts.
Hudson has received only five total runs of support in those five outings. He got no help Sunday, but it may not have mattered as he surrendered five runs and seven hits in four innings of a 6-4 loss at New York.
Atlanta is hitting .200 on the trip, but has batted .271 with 11 homers while winning eight of its last nine overall meetings with the Astros, including three of four in Houston.
Freddie Freeman has been a bright spot for the Braves, batting .350 average in his last 15 road games. The rookie first baseman went 0 for 3 in his only game against the Astros on May 16, but the Braves won 3-2 in the opener of what would be a two-game sweep at home.
Infielder Martin Prado -- Atlanta's leader in homers (eight) and RBIs (33) -- is expected to return from a bruised left knee for this series, but is likely to be out of the lineup for a third consecutive game Friday.
"I don't want to go out there and perform at 50 percent," Prado told the Braves' official website.
Owners of the worst record in baseball, the Astros have dropped five of six both at home and overall.
Houston lost for the fifth time in six games overall Thursday, falling 9-2 to St. Louis.
Hunter Pence has been a bright spot, batting .376 during a 20-game hitting streak, the Astros' longest since a 21-game run by Miguel Tejada in 2009.
"It's part of the game," said Pence, 1 for 6 against Hudson. "Sometimes you get them, sometimes they get you out."
The Astros will give the ball to Aneury Rodriguez (0-3, 5.28), who is 0-3 with a 4.95 ERA in seven starts since being installed in the rotation last month.
The rookie right-hander was charged with a 6-3 loss at San Diego on Saturday, allowing three runs in six innings. His three prior outings ended in Houston wins, but he didn't get any of the decisions with a 4.11 ERA in that stretch.
Rodriguez is facing the Braves for the first time.
8:05 PM ET, June 10, 2011
Minute Maid Park, Houston, Texas
Tim Hudson wouldn't mind seeing some production from the lineup, but his history against the Houston Astros implies he may not need it.Regular Season Series
Atlanta leads 2-0 (as of Fri 6/10)
Mon 5/16 @ATL 3, HOU 2 Recap
Tue 5/17 @ATL 3, HOU 1 Recap
Jun 10, 2011 ATL (Hudson) @ HOU (Rodriguez) 8:05 PM ET
Jun 11, 2011 ATL (Minor) @ HOU (Lyles) 7:05 PM ET
Jun 12, 2011 ATL (Hanson) @ HOU (Myers) 2:05 PM ET
Jun 13, 2011 ATL (Lowe) @ HOU (Rodriguez) 8:05 PM ET
Hudson looks to continue his dominance of the last-place Astros when he takes the mound in the opener of this four-game wraparound series Friday night.
Atlanta (35-28), 4-2 on its 10-game road trip, compiled a 1.29 ERA -- 0.92 from the rotation -- while sweeping a three-game series in Florida, capped by Thursday's 3-2 victory.
The Braves, who outscored the Marlins 7-4 in the series, haven't won four in a row on the road since Sept. 8-19. Giving Hudson (4-5, 4.14 ERA) the ball seems to be a good way to accomplish that feat again.
Hudson is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA in five career starts against the Astros (24-39), but hasn't faced them at Minute Maid Park since allowing two runs in eight innings of a 4-2 victory June 10, 2006.
The right-hander has struggled since tossing a one-hitter in an 8-0 win over Milwaukee on May 4, going 0-3 with a 6.66 ERA in five starts.
Hudson has received only five total runs of support in those five outings. He got no help Sunday, but it may not have mattered as he surrendered five runs and seven hits in four innings of a 6-4 loss at New York.
Atlanta is hitting .200 on the trip, but has batted .271 with 11 homers while winning eight of its last nine overall meetings with the Astros, including three of four in Houston.
Freddie Freeman has been a bright spot for the Braves, batting .350 average in his last 15 road games. The rookie first baseman went 0 for 3 in his only game against the Astros on May 16, but the Braves won 3-2 in the opener of what would be a two-game sweep at home.
Infielder Martin Prado -- Atlanta's leader in homers (eight) and RBIs (33) -- is expected to return from a bruised left knee for this series, but is likely to be out of the lineup for a third consecutive game Friday.
"I don't want to go out there and perform at 50 percent," Prado told the Braves' official website.
Owners of the worst record in baseball, the Astros have dropped five of six both at home and overall.
Houston lost for the fifth time in six games overall Thursday, falling 9-2 to St. Louis.
Hunter Pence has been a bright spot, batting .376 during a 20-game hitting streak, the Astros' longest since a 21-game run by Miguel Tejada in 2009.
"It's part of the game," said Pence, 1 for 6 against Hudson. "Sometimes you get them, sometimes they get you out."
The Astros will give the ball to Aneury Rodriguez (0-3, 5.28), who is 0-3 with a 4.95 ERA in seven starts since being installed in the rotation last month.
The rookie right-hander was charged with a 6-3 loss at San Diego on Saturday, allowing three runs in six innings. His three prior outings ended in Houston wins, but he didn't get any of the decisions with a 4.11 ERA in that stretch.
Rodriguez is facing the Braves for the first time.
