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After tough May, Smoltz looks to start new month right

Jun 5, 2007 - 2:19 PM Florida (28-30) at Atlanta (32-25) 2:35 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- After dislocating a finger and experiencing discomfort in his shoulder in two of his last four starts, John Smoltz is hoping June brings similar success and less pain than the previous month did.

The Atlanta Braves continue their series with the Florida Marlins with a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday at Turner Field.

Smoltz (7-2, 2.82 ERA), who injured his right pinky on May 14 against Washington and left his last start last Tuesday against Milwaukee with shoulder pain, gets the start in the first game of the twinbill after a 4-1 May.

Smoltz surrendered three runs and eight hits over 3 1/3 innings on Tuesday, his shortest outing of the year, but did not factor into the decision of a 5-4 loss against the Brewers.

The 40-year-old righthander is 13-5 with a 2.69 ERA in 52 career appearances - including 23 starts - against the Marlins.

Sergio Mitre (2-2, 1.74) will try to give the Marlins their sixth win in their last nine contests. Like Smoltz, the 26-year-old Mitre left his last start with an injury issue (hamstring) on Wednesday against the Cubs, but not before striking out seven in just four frames.

Including Wednesday's brief outing, Mitre has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last seven starts. He is 0-1 with a 6.14 ERA in four career appearances - including two starts - against the Braves, although he has not faced them in three seasons.