Atlanta Braves vs. Houston Astros Series Preview

What can one say about the 2012 Astros? There's really no nice way to describe the way they've played lately. Quite honestly, they've sucked. Their July was one for the history books as it was the fifth-worst month for any team in baseball history, and history is quite a long time. The Astros won just three of their 27 games during the month and are officially the worst team in all of MLB right now with a 35-71 record, only 10 of those coming away from home. In the NL, they are 14th in hitting (.242), 15th in ERA (4.82), their bullpen is atrocious (5.04 ERA, dead last in MLB) and the defense has committed the third-most errors (75). Their -135 run differential is the worst of any team. No matter how you slice it, the Astros have been horrible in what is to be their final year as a National League team.

On top of that, they've got a completely different look. In addition to dumping Carlos Lee, whom the Braves just saw with Miami, Houston has traded away five pitchers, one of them their best in Wandy Rodriguez plus their closer Brett Myers, and their regular third baseman Chris Johnson. Johnson had been the second-best hitter on the team next to All-Star Jose Altuve with a .279 batting average, and his 41 RBI were second to J.D. Martinez's 53. New reliever Francisco Cordero has yet to earn any fans in Houston, blowing three saves in his six games since being traded, allowing 11 runs. Jed Lowrie, the team leader with 14 home runs, has been on the DL since July 15 with a sprained right ankle.

This series will also feature the Braves debut of Paul Maholm, acquired from the Cubs July 30.

Pitching matchups after the jump.

Friday, August 3, 7:35 p.m. ET

Tim Hudson

#15 / Pitcher / Atlanta Braves

Height: 6-1

Weight: 175

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Jul 14, 1975

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2012 - Tim Hudson	10-4	17	17	1	1	0	0	110.0	105	48	45	6	29	68	3.68	1.22

Armando Galarraga

#30 / Pitcher / Houston Astros

Height: 6-4

Weight: 235

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Jan 15, 1982

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2012 - Armando Galarraga	0-0	1	1	0	0	0	0	5.0	5	3	2	2	1	5	3.60	1.20

Saturday, August 4, 7:10 p.m. ET

Paul Maholm

#17 / Pitcher / Atlanta Braves

Height: 6-2

Weight: 220

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Jun 25, 1982

2012: 9-6 W-L, 3.74 ERA, 20 starts, 120.1 IP, 115 hits, 50 ER, 12 HR, 34 BB, 81 K,

1.24 WHIP

Lucas Harrell

#64 / Pitcher / Houston Astros

Height: 6-2

Weight: 210

Bats: B

Throws: R

Born: Jun 03, 1985

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2012 - Lucas Harrell	8-7	21	21	1	1	0	0	127.1	125	65	57	10	46	86	4.03	1.34

Sunday, August 5, 1:35 p.m. ET

Kris Medlen

#54 / Pitcher / Atlanta Braves

Height: 5-10

Weight: 190

Bats: B

Throws: R

Born: Oct 07, 1985

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2012 - Kris Medlen	2-1	39	1	0	0	1	1	59.1	50	16	16	2	14	39	2.43	1.08

Bud Norris

#20 / Pitcher / Houston Astros

Height: 6-0

Weight: 220

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Mar 02, 1985

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2012 - Bud Norris	5-8	19	19	0	0	0	0	109.1	108	63	61	15	47	111	5.02	1.42