San Francisco at Atlanta 7:10 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Braves received a solid pitching performance from an unexpected source in their most recent contest to help extend their winning streak to a season-best seven games. 

Jair Jurrjens' personal hot stretch also has been impressive given his earlier struggles. 

The right-hander looks to remain unbeaten since being recalled from the minors when surging Atlanta hosts former Brave Melky Cabrera and the NL West-leading San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game set Tuesday night. 

The Braves (49-39) completed a three-game sweep of the Mets with a 6-1 victory Sunday behind six scoreless innings from Ben Sheets, who hadn't pitched in the majors since July 2010. 

Freddie Freeman hit a three-run homer and is hitting .462 during his seven-game hitting streak, while Chipper Jones went 2 for 4. 

They seemingly have a good chance of doing so with Jurrjens on the mound. 

Jurrjens (3-2, 4.97 ERA) has looked rejuvenated since being demoted to Triple-A Gwinnett in late April after going 0-2 with a 9.37 ERA in his first four outings. He allowed three runs in seven innings of a 4-3 win over Philadelphia on July 8, improving to 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA in four starts since being recalled June 22. 

Jurrjens is 2-3 with a 3.58 ERA in five career starts versus the Giants after allowing five runs in six innings of a 7-5 loss Aug. 17 - the only defeat Atlanta has suffered in the series' last nine contests. 

San Francisco (49-40) has surged ahead of the Dodgers in the West after completing a three-game sweep of Houston with a 3-2 victory Sunday. Buster Posey went 3 for 4 and drove in two runs to help offset the absence of Cabrera, who left the team for the birth of his child. 

Cabrera is expected to be back in the lineup Tuesday - one week after being named All-Star game MVP in Kansas City, where he played in 2011 before being dealt to the Giants. He latched on with the Royals after being released by the Braves following a disappointing 2010 season in which he hit .255. This is his first trip back to Turner Field. 

While Cabrera has certainly transformed himself since leaving Atlanta, Barry Zito would like to turn the page on his recent struggles. 

Zito (7-6, 4.01) picked up a 6-5 win over Pittsburgh on July 6, but he allowed four runs, seven hits and three walks in five innings. He's 2-4 with a 6.12 ERA over his last six starts and his 5.27 walks per nine innings since May are the third-most in the majors. 

The left-hander also struggled with his control over his last four starts against the Braves, but he's 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA in those outings - all at Turner Field - despite walking 15. 


In his sixth season with San Francisco, Zito is seeking to finish above .500 for the first time. The left-hander never finished below .500 in seven seasons with Oakland.



San Francisco outfielder Melky Cabrera leads the majors in hits (122). Cabrera, who was the MVP of the All-Star Game, capped his big week by missing Sunday’s game to be in Orlando for the birth of his third child. He is expected to be back in the lineup Tuesday.


Chipper Jones is the hottest Atlanta hitter. The future Hall of Famer has hit in 15 of his past 16 games, hitting .400 (24-for-60) with two homers, 10 RBIs, eight doubles and nine walks.


W/L Trends

Giants are 2-5 in their last 7 games as a road underdog.

Giants are 1-4 in their last 5 games as an underdog.

Giants are 1-5 in their last 6 vs. National League East.

Giants are 1-6 in their last 7 road games.

Giants are 7-15 in Zitos last 22 starts as an underdog.


W/L Trends

Braves are 4-0 in their last 4 games as a favorite.

Braves are 7-0 in their last 7 overall.

Braves are 4-0 in their last 4 home games.

Braves are 23-8 in their last 31 vs. National League West.

Braves are 20-6 in Jurrjens' last 26 starts as a home favorite.
Braves are 20-6 in Jurrjens' last 26 home starts.
Braves are 5-2 in Jurrjens' last 7 starts.


Head To Head

Under is 4-1 in Jurrjens' last 5 starts vs. Giants.
Under is 9-3 in the last 12 meetings in Atlanta.
Giants are 1-6 in the last 7 meetings.


It appears to be pretty evident that the Braves not only have a statistical advantage here they are also pretty hot going on  7-0 run and winning easily in 5 of those games. No doubt the Giants have done pretty well lately except for Zito's WHIP#'s plus the travel across the board today to Atlanta from Houston last night. Still i'm loving Jurrjens today who has been on a roll in his last few games. Again we are faced with the high juice on the Braves -145 so we'll take a shot at this one with the RL +145. I think Zito gets hammered tonight so i'm putting a little on the 1H as well. Go Braves


ATL BRAVES -1½+145