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Brewers-Braves Preview

Jul 14, 2010 - 9:45 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Milwaukee (40-49) at Atlanta (52-36), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Brian McCann gave the NL home-field advantage in the World Series with a clutch, two-out hit late in the All-Star game.

The Atlanta Braves would love to be the beneficiaries of their catcher's heroics.

The NL's best team also boasts the majors' top home record, meaning Atlanta should have a good chance to pad its lead in the East when it opens a seven-game stretch at Turner Field on Thursday night with the first of four against the Milwaukee Brewers.

It wasn't a great first half in many ways for McCann, who is hitting .267 - well below his career average of .291 - and with 37 RBIs is on pace to fall well short of the 92 he averaged in his first four full major league seasons.

McCann is batting .223 with two outs, but had no problem coming through with a big hit in that situation Tuesday. The five-time All-Star's pinch-hit, three-run double in the seventh lifted the NL to a 3-1 win, snapping the league's 13-game losing streak in the Midsummer Classic.

"Today was big. And home-field advantage for the World Series is big," McCann said.

The Braves (52-36) have a realistic opportunity to benefit from McCann's moment. Atlanta won four of five heading into the All-Star break to push its lead over the second-place New York Mets to four games.

"(The All-Star game) means more to me this year than years past, because we are in first place," McCann told the Braves' official website. "You think about it more when you're sitting in that position instead of coming here 10, 12 games out."

Atlanta will open its latest homestand with a bit of a new look after a swap of shortstops. The Braves on Wednesday traded the disappointing Yunel Escobar to Toronto for Alex Gonzalez, who's tied for sixth in the majors with 43 extra-base hits.

It will be hard for Gonzalez to give Atlanta any more of a boost at Turner Field. The Braves are 30-10 at home and 19-4 there since May 19, winning eight consecutive series.

They're 22-26 on the road, but had no problem beating Milwaukee (40-49) at Miller Park from May 10-12. Atlanta outscored the Brewers 28-7 to sweep the three-game set.

Probable Braves starter Jair Jurrjens (1-3, 5.40 ERA) was sidelined then, part of a two-month stretch on the disabled list with a strained hamstring. He's looked solid in two outings since his return, going 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA.

"I couldn't be more pleased the way his two outings have been," manager Bobby Cox said. "That's the old JJ, just about. He's just about there."

Jurrjens lost his only previous start against the Brewers, allowing four runs over seven innings of a 4-0 home defeat June 5, 2009.

The Brewers swept Pittsburgh in their final three games before the break, capped by All-Star Corey Hart's walk-off two-run homer in a 6-5 win Sunday.

Dave Bush (4-6, 4.14) continued his recent success in that series' middle game. The right-hander gave up two runs over 6 1-3 innings of a 4-3 win, improving to 3-1 with a 2.27 ERA over his last five starts.

"The last month or so, I've had good command and quite honestly, I'm just feeling stronger," Bush told the Brewers' official website.

Bush is 1-1 with a 2.33 ERA in four starts against Atlanta - McCann is 1 for 11 - but he may have another threat to deal with Thursday night. Star rookie Jason Heyward, voted an All-Star starter but unable to play because of a thumb injury, could be back in the Braves' lineup for the first time since June 25.

Gonzalez is 4 for 6 against Bush.