ATLANTA BRAVES -125 - The Braves should be in an ornery mood after getting embarrassed by the Phillies 8-1 here at home last night. Atlanta usually bounces back quite well from adversity, as they are 147-85, 63.4% when coming off a loss, and an even more impressive 116-65, 64.1% after scoring 2 runs or less. While Wolf is off to an excellent start at 8-3 with a 3.26 ERA, the Braves have feasted on left-handed pitching this season, hitting .291 vs. southpaws overall including a whopping .310 here at home! Wolf experienced this first hand the last time he pitched here, as he was tagged for 5 runs and 8 Men on Base in 5.1 innings by the Braves back in April. In fact, Atlanta is now 14-2 this year vs. left-handed starters! Hampton is just 3-3 overall, but he has a good 3.59 ERA and a 1.36 ratio, and he appears to be improving with every start under the tutelage of Atlanta pitching coach Leo Mazzone. In his last 5 outings, Hampton has a 2.57 ERA and a 1.21 ratio, and he held Philadelphia to 2 runs on just 2 hits in 7.1 innings at the Vet last week, taking a no-hitter into the 8th inning.
