Game 72: Rangers vs. Braves

Wow. These are my two favorite teams. I love the Rangers... but my #2 team is the Atlanta Braves. And that's even with them having Mark Teixeira. And so, this is a series that I will be watching closely. And prayerfully, I will be able to get to see a game.

Tim Hudson comes into this game with a 7-4 record and a 2.76 ERA. His WHIP is 1.14, which is really good. He has a 6-5 record against the Rangers in his career and a 4.01 ERA. Historically, the Rangers have hit him with a .241 batting average. On the road, Hudson is 2-3 this season with a 2.96 ERA. His last start against the Rangers was in 2005, where he picked up a loss going 2.2 innings and puking up 5 runs. Talk about a bad day. The current Ranger roster is batting .268 (26-97) against Hudson.

Rangers to Watch:

• Michael Young: 9-25 (360 BA); 1 double and 2 RBIs

To be honest, no other Ranger is worth bragging about. Josh Hamilton (0-3) should be entertaining to watch tonight against Hudson. I think he will create a batting average on Hudson and not just leave it at zero.

Vicente Padilla is 8-3 with a 3.89 ERA and a WHIP of 1.45 coming into tonights game. At home he is 2-2 with a complete game shutout. His ERA in Arlington is 3.27 and opponents are hitting him for a .248 batting average in the hitters park. In his career against Atlanta, he is 5-8 with a 3.67 ERA in 95.2 innings. Atlanta historically has hit him for a .272 batting average. In fourteen starts, Padilla has pitched 6 innings 10 times. When he pitches 6 innings or more, he is 7-2.

Braves to Watch:

• Chipper Jones: 11-33 (333 BA); 2 doubles, 1 HR, and 4 RBIs
• Mark Kotsay: 8-23 (348 BA); 2 doubles, 1 HR, and 3 RBIs (out)
• Mark Teixeira: 2-2 (1000 BA); 2 HRs and 3 RBIs (BEANBALL candidate)

I really think Tex is in danger of being thrown at... and it would be suited, like a "welcome back to Arlington, loud-mouth"... it will be definitely the matchup to watch tonight.

The dot race... Big Brown is the winner. Why not, right?

I thought to add this to the series. Blalock should be coming back soon. It's been heard that he is currently in Frisco or Oklahoma grabbing some playing time. I think it is Oklahome, though. I do not know any more than that.

Forecast: These two teams seem evenly matched. And that will make it all the more worthy of watching. Hudson and Padilla both should do a good job, so after seven innings are done, and things get handed over to the bullpen... who will go to work to preserve their starters good work? Atlanta has the better pitching, by far... and the Rangers have the better offense... but not by far. It is rather close to Atlanta's. Bullpen blows it for the Rangers, 6-4. Johnny Out.

Home Plate