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Teixeira to make debut as Braves host Astros

Aug 1, 2007 - 1:53 PM Houston (46-60) at Atlanta (56-51) 7:35 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Braves will feel like a kid at Christmas on Wednesday. They get to unveil their biggest present.

Mark Teixeira is expected to make his debut for the Braves as they continue to host the Houston Astros in the second game of a three-game series.

The Braves acquired the Gold Glove first baseman from the Texas Rangers on Tuesday in a seven-player deal. Teixeira fills a huge void for the Braves. Atlanta used mostly Scott Thorman, Craig Wilson and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and the trio combined for 12 homers and 41 RBI.

"It will be a better lineup, a more dangerous lineup," shortstop Edgar Renteria said. "You see Chipper, Andruw and Teixeira or Chipper, Teixeira and Andruw, if I were a pitcher I wouldn't want to face those three. He's a good defensive first baseman too. I think we needed a good hitter like him."

The addition of Teixeira has already had an impact for Atlanta, which hit four home runs in a 12-4 rout of the Houston Astros in Tuesday's opener. Kelly Johnson went 4-for-4 with a pair of home runs and drove in five as the Braves won their second straight game after losing four in a row.

Buddy Carlyle (5-3, 4.25 ERA) gets the ball for Atlanta. The righthander had his three-game winning streak snapped on Sunday when he allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants.

Carlyle will be opposed by Wandy Rodriguez (7-9, 4.28), who snapped a personal two-game skid by holding the San Diego Padres to one run and five hits in seven innings of Sunday's 7-1 win.

Houston has dropped three of four and is a National League-worst 18-35 on the road.