Sunday Night Baseball Preview: Atlanta Braves vs. San Francisco Giants

The Atlanta Braves (72-55) and San Francisco Giants (71-56) will close out a National League series on Sunday night at AT&T Park, with the first pitch scheduled for 8:05 ET on ESPN

Atlanta Braves at San Francisco Giants

Atlanta Braves OF Jason Heyward loves hitting in the Bay Area

Atlanta picked up a much-needed 7-3 road win over San Francisco on Saturday afternoon, while also resting third baseman Chipper Jones and catcher Brian McCann. “We had a lot of runs today and good at-bats and good defense,” commented Braves pitcher Mike Minor. Braves outfielder Jason Heyward continues to lead the offense in the Bay Area, hitting .394 with five home runs and 11 RBIs in nine games in San Francisco. Atlanta is 8-8 as a road underdog of +100 to +125, while also posting a 20-16 mark in day games.

Braves starting pitcher Tim Hudson (12-4, 3.69 ERA) has led the club to eight wins in his last 10 efforts, but didn’t pick up a decision in a 5-4 road loss to the Washington Nationals last time out. The right-hander is 5-1 with a 3.36 ERA in nine road outings, issuing 22 walks and striking out 27 batters in 59 frames. In 16 career starts versus the Giants, Hudson has tallied a 7-4 record and 3.29 ERA, including a 3-2 home win on July 19.

San Francisco still owns a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West standings, as the club will be searching for its third straight series win in this affair. “You can’t have success every day,” commented Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval. The Giants will try to jump on Hudson early in this contest, considering he’s allowed 20 of his 59 runs in the opening frame this year. San Francisco is 19-8 at home with a money line of -100 to -150.

Giants starting pitcher Tim Lincecum (7-13, 5.30 ERA) snapped a two-game losing streak in earning a 4-1 road victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The right-hander is 3-7 with a 3.92 ERA in 13 home appearances, surrendering four home runs in 80.1 combined frames. In 10 career games versus the Braves, Lincecum has tallied a 6-4 record and 3.12 ERA, but was 0-2 with a 4.05 ERA in two outings in the series last year.