Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson will look to tame the Brewers' powerful offense while Atlanta fans hope that such words as "powerful offense" can again be used of the Braves.
Atlanta is hoping to turn things around after seeing their offense go in the tank, along with injuries to key players. Yunel Escobar and Jair Jurrjens are on the disabled list while Chipper Jones and Jason Heyward are missing games with groin injuries. Meanwhile catcher Brian McCann will be adjusting to wearing new glasses.
Hanson, who has been impressive with a 2.83 ERA this season, will have his hands full with a Brewers offense that has seen contributions from just about everyone.
Hanson has spent the early portion of this season learning that opposing hitters are taking an aggressive approach against him early in the count. After allowing three earned runs in the first two innings against the Nationals on Wednesday night, the 23-year-old right-hander displayed better command and surrendered just one more run in the six-inning effort.
Hanson allowed three two-run homers in his Major League debut against the Brewers last year. He went 0-1 with a 5.54 ERA in two starts against them last year.
It took him six starts and nearly a month, but Doug Davis finally notched the first win of his second tour of duty with the Brewers.
He held the Dodgers to three runs in 5 1/3 innings on Wednesday, and the Brewers scored some late insurance runs for an 11-3 win that was closer than the final score indicated.
Davis continues to be plagued by some bad luck -- opponents are batting .452 against Davis on balls in play this season. The Major League average is in the neighborhood of .300.
Left fielder Ryan Braun and third baseman Casey McGehee have been a potent 1-2 punch, while first baseman Prince Fielder has been swinging a hot bat, including a home run on Sunday, after a slow start.
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Source: MLB.com