Game of the week (5-06): Astros vs Braves

[missionhockey21]

vs

The game will be on TBS tonight. The game should be a good one at that. Berkman could be returning just in time to help the struggling Astros. And obviously we have a matchup of two aces, Smoltz vs Oswalt. Game time is 7:35 PM tonight. Let's get some predicitions going now.

*OF Berkman returns for Astros against Braves*
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Houston (11-16) at Atlanta (17-11), 7:35 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Lance Berkman is set to make his 2005
debut for the Houston Astros when they face the Atlanta
Braves on Friday.

Berkman tore the ACL in his right knee playing flag football in
November and missed all of spring training and the first month
of the season recovering from the injury.

A three-time All-Star who led the Astros with a .316 batting
average and 30 home runs last year, Berkman will be a welcome
addition for a club that has struggled offensively.

Houston is hitting just .260 as a team and dropped its third
straight game Thursday - a 9-3 decision to the Braves in the
series opener.

John Thomson tossed his 10th career complete game, allowing
three runs and just three hits while striking out five for
Atlanta. Adam LaRoche homered and drove in four runs for the
Braves, who won for the 10th time in 13 games.

John Smoltz (2-3, 3.22 ERA) will try to build on Thomson's
start. After going 0-3 with a 5.63 ERA in his first three
starts, Smoltz is 2-0 with a 1.33 mark in his last three.

The 37-year-old righthander allowed a run in 6 2/3 innings in
a 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals last Sunday.

Roy Oswalt (4-2, 3.29) gets the start for the Astros, five days
after leaving a 9-3 win over the Chicago Cubs with a sprained
left foot. He allowed three runs - two earned - and 10 hits in
five innings before leaving in the sixth.

Oswalt is 0-1 with a 4.98 ERA lifetime vs. the Braves, the only
National League team he has yet to beat.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/score...TLANTA---0.htm

[777rak]

yea sounds like a good matchup Oswalt VS Smoltz

[Witlon]

I'm going to say...

Astros 5
Braves 3

WP- Oswalt
LP- Smoltz
S- Lidge

I'm expecting a couple hits from Tavares tonight, and maybe a homer from LaRoche or Estrada, somebody you wouldn't normally think of.

[redsrbetter]

I can't wait to see Tavares' arm again. He is making the Astros not miss Beltran as much. But I have to go for the Braves again as they are plaing an NLCental rival for the Reds. Shoul be a great pitching matchup.

[ATLien]

Yes! Another GOTW with the Braves.

I'm starting to get that "feeling" with this Braves team, we're almost there. Expect an insane 25-out-30 win streak to come on any time now. It's starting to click... almost. Offensive production is still unpredictable, but it's been good as of late. If Danny Kolb had the flu, I would feel much better about this game.

[Steak]

Braves 6 Astros 4

[HuskerFan2002]

"berkmaaan!"

"over The Railroad Tracks!"

[redsrbetter]

Well Smoltz get Berkman to ground out after his first AB of the season. Here come the Braves!

[Tedc]

Berkman just looks weird at first.

[redsrbetter]

Yeah he did not look normal.

[missionhockey21]

Estrada with a 3 run jack!

[redsrbetter]

estrada hits a tough pitch down and in, but he gets all of it! 3-0 Braves!

[Tedc]

I'm going to say...

Astros 5
Braves 3

WP- Oswalt
LP- Smoltz
S- Lidge

I'm expecting a couple hits from Tavares tonight, and maybe a homer from LaRoche or Estrada, somebody you wouldn't normally think of.

What a good call!

[redsrbetter]

Did you mean 1B for Berkman earlier Tedc or at first in his AB?

[Tedc]

http://strike3forums.com/forums/show...3130#post23130