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Tigers-Braves Preview

Jun 27, 2010 - 2:00 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Detroit (39-33) at Atlanta (43-31), 1:35 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers rely upon Tommy Hanson and Justin Verlander for consistency on the mound, and the occasional outstanding performance. Neither pitcher delivered in his most recent start.

Hanson and Verlander attempt to rebound from their worst performances of the season Sunday when they start opposite each other as the NL East-leading Braves try to complete a sweep of the visiting Tigers.

Hanson (7-4, 4.17 ERA) is one of the top young arms in baseball, but was roughed up in Tuesday's 9-6 loss to the Chicago White Sox. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed career highs of nine runs and 13 hits in 3 2-3 innings while failing to record a strikeout for the first time.

"It was actually pretty embarrassing," said Hanson, who had been 4-0 with a 2.03 ERA in his previous five starts. "I didn't make my pitches and they let me know. Every fastball I threw over the plate, they crushed. Whatever I threw, they hit."

Verlander (8-5, 3.94), Detroit's wins leader, wasn't much better in his outing Tuesday, giving up five runs and five hits with three walks in two-plus innings of a 14-6 road loss to the New York Mets.

The right-hander had won seven of nine starts with a 2.71 ERA before turning in his shortest outing since Sept. 1, 2008.

"I just felt out of sync from the get-go," Verlander told the Tigers' official website. "I kind of felt like I reverted back to old form. Some of the stuff I've been working so hard to get back - throwing the ball where I wanted, especially my fastball - really felt like that wasn't there."

Verlander was impressive in his only start against the Braves on June 23, 2007, yielding one run and striking out 11 in seven innings of a 2-1 victory at Turner Field.

Hanson will be facing the Tigers (39-34) for the first time, as the Braves (44-31) attempt to sweep this three-game set after winning 4-3 on Saturday.

Atlanta has held Detroit to four runs and nine hits over two games, running its home winning streak to seven.

The Braves have also won 16 of 17 at Turner Field to improve their home record to a major league-best 26-7 - a major reason Atlanta leads the East by 1 1/2 games over the New York Mets.

The Tigers, who trail first-place Minnesota by 1 1/2 games in the AL Central, are trying to shake out of a 4-12 road funk during which they've hit .233 as a team.

Magglio Ordonez is 3 for 20 in his last five games away from Detroit, including 0 for 7 in this series. The right fielder has a .207 average with no homers and one RBI in eight career games at Atlanta.

Braves rookie Jason Heyward is 1 for 16 over his last five games as a nagging thumb injury continues to bother him. He plans to see a team physician Monday and is not expected to play Sunday.

"It hasn't gotten better in two months," said Heyward, who leads all rookies with 45 RBIs and is tied for first with 11 homers.

Melky Cabrera will likely man right field in place of Heyward again after going 0 for 4 with a walk and a run Saturday.