The Atlanta Braves and Triple-A Gwinnett Braves are both playing great ball since their respective all-star breaks.
Both look to continue a push for the postseason this week.
The Atlanta Braves, 8-3 since the break, start a three-game series against the Florida Marlins in Miami on Tuesday. Then the Braves head out west for a weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Taking the mound for the Braves in the series opener against the Marlins will be Jair Jurrjens (9-7, 2.67 ERA) against Florida’s Ricky Nolasco (7-7, 5.42).
In his last outing, Jurrjens pitched 7 2/3 innings and only gave up three hits and one earned run, earning the win against the San Francisco Giants. The Braves’ 23-year-old right hander is one of the hottest pitchers on the team’s staff lately, earning a win in each of his last three outings.
On Wednesday, Javier Vazquez (8-7, 2.97) will take the mound for the Braves against Florida’s Josh Johnson (9-2, 2.80).
The G-Braves (56-46) are also in the thick of the playoff hunt in the International League. Gwinnett recently swept a three-game series against the Norfolk Tides at Gwinnett Stadium.
This week, the G-Braves will be at home all week with the final game of a series against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs today, followed by a four-game set against the Rochester Red Wings.
Atlanta’s Tim Hudson is scheduled to make his first of four scheduled rehab outings for the G-Braves tonight against Lehigh Valley.
Hudson, a 146-game winner in his career with the Braves and Oakland A’s, is scheduled to pitch four innings tonight for Gwinnett.
Hudson is moving up to Gwinnett after making two starts with Single-A Myrtle Beach last week. In his last outing, he allowed five hits and three runs in 2 2/3 innings in a Carolina League outing against Wilmington. The pitching veteran is attempting to make a full recovery since having reconstructive elbow surgery on August 8 last season.
Gwinnett is currently tied with the Norfolk Tides in the wildcard race in the International League.