Open Thread and Noc-A-Homa-Win-A-Lotta: Cardinals at Braves (7/19)

Today's Starting Pitchers

T. Hudson Braves vs.  M. Maroth Cardinals 9-5 W-L 0-2 3.35 ERA 5.75 79 SO 12 30 BB 9 4 HR 6 vs. Cardinals -- vs. Braves

Game Time: 7:35pm on

The Braves completed their second sweep in a row yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately, this time we were on the losing end. Heck that just goes with the streaky pattern the Braves have been in lately. The Reds really had our number for some reason, maybe we can figure it out before we meet them in a four-game set in late August.

On the positive side of yesterday's game, John Smoltz pitched perhaps his best game this season. His 11 strikeouts were a season high, and it was the fourth time he has left after seven innings without having given up a run -- that adds a real positive note to our rotation.

We get to see the defending world champs for the first time this year. They've been doing a bit better of late, but they are still 5 games under .500 on the year and a shadow of the team they were last season, mainly due to a sharp decline in pitching. Perhaps we'll get ourselves a bit more hyped up to play them, being that they are the defending champs. And perhaps we'll see Julio Franco starting at first base against the lefty.

Don't forget to get your picks in before the game for Nok-A-Homa-Win-A-Lotta (click here to learn how to play and to view the leaderboard); the three categories are (1) Attendance, (2) Pick to Click, and (3) Above and Beyond Pick.