Hudson in Slump
The Milwaukee Brewers stopped their longest skid of the season by finally coming through at the plate. They’ll try to follow that effort up against a slumping Tim Hudson.
Hudson looks to avoid a third straight loss as he takes the mound for the Atlanta Braves in the decisive game of their road series with the Brewers on Wednesday.
Oddsmakers have made Atlanta -125 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for todays game, the over/under has been set at 8.5 total runs (Matchup). Our public betting information shows that 86% of bets for this game have been placed on Atlanta -125 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
Milwaukee (29-23) ended a six-game losing streak with a 5-4 win over Atlanta (29-23) on Tuesday night in the middle game of the series.
The Brewers, who still lead the NL Central by 5 1/2 games, had scored a total of one run in their previous two games and plated two runs or fewer four times during their skid.
Milwaukee will now faces Hudson (5-3, 2.79 ERA), who has posted an 8.74 ERA while losing his last two starts. The right-hander, who is 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA in three career starts against Milwaukee, gave up five runs and a season-high 10 hits in 6 2-3 innings as the Braves lost 8-3 to Philadelphia on Friday night.
Hudson will try to shut down a Brewers lineup that collected 15 hits Tuesday.
Milwaukee first baseman Prince Fielder hit his NL-leading 17th homer, only 11 fewer than his total as a rookie last season. He has hit five round-trippers in his last eight games.
"We’ve just got to keep playing like we did … and see what happens," Fielder told the Brewers’ official Web site.
Francisco Cordero converted his 18th consecutive save chance for the Brewers, although it wasn’t easy. With runners on first and third, he struck out Scott Thorman and Matt Diaz to end the game.
Cordero’s has an 0.43 ERA and has struck out 31 batters in 21 innings. His 18 straight saves tie him for second in franchise history with Dan Kolb (2003). The club record is 25 by Doug Jones (1997).
"He makes you chase pitches, because he’s that good," Braves manager Bobby Cox said of Cordero.
Cordero has gotten a save in all three wins Dave Bush (3-5, 6.13 ERA) has recorded. Bush, who will get the ball Wednesday, has struggled while losing his last two starts.
The right-hander, who has never faced Atlanta, allowed seven runs and nine hits in five innings as Milwaukee lost 8-6 to San Diego on Friday night.
It seems Bush will not have to face Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, who has missed six straight games with a sore right hand. Atlanta manager Bobby Cox said he plans to hold Jones out until Friday, when Atlanta starts a three-game set with the Cubs.
The Braves are 2-4 since Jones was injured, while scoring three or fewer runs in half of those contests.
Although they have the same record as Milwaukee, the Braves trail the NL East-leading New York Mets by five games.
by: Michael Cash – thespread.com – Email Us
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