ATLANTA BRAVES ?115 - The Reds have been a pleasant early season surprise, but I feel that Atlanta has a fairly large pitching advantage in this contest. Ramirez surprised many people last season as the least heralded starter on a staff full of superstars, and that success has carried over to this year. Although he is 0-1, the young southpaw has allowed just 2 runs and 10 hits in 14 innings to this point. He just had the misfortune of being matched up with two good pitchers in those match-ups, which I do not feel is the case tonight. Harang was once a highly regarded prospect in the Oakland organization, but he was a bust at the Major League level, and his transition to the National League has not been a smooth one. He had a 5.28 ERA in 9 starts for the Reds after coming over last year, and he has been shaky in his first two starts this season, allowing 5 earned runs in 11 innings with a high ratio of 1.55, as opposing batters are hitting .325 off of him. Finally, the Braves may also hold the X-Factor in closer John Smoltz, who is finally looking like his old self after tossing 3 hitless innings in his last 3 appearances.
