How we see it goin' down: Braves - Red Sox series

First Pitch: Friday 7:10, Saturday 7:15, Sunday 1:35

Arms: Friday: Jair Jurrjens, RHP (0-2, 9.37 ERA) vs. Jon Lester, LHP (4-4, 4.53 ERA)

Saturday: Randall Delgado, RHP (4-7, 4.12 ERA) vs. Franklin Morales, LHP (0-1, 3.14 ERA)

Sunday: Mike Minor, LHP (3-5, 6.04 ERA) vs. Clay Buchholz, RHP (8-2, 5.53 ERA)

                                   Yard: Fenway Park   Watch it: NESN/FOX-Saturday  Hear it:  WEEI

The Matchup

Record: 37-32 (3rd NL East)	Record: 36-33 (4th AL East)
On road: 22-15	At home: 17-19
Streak: Won 2	Streak: Won 5
Leaders at the plate	Leaders at the plate
Average: Simmons (.322)	Average: Nava (.340)
Homers: Uggla (11)	Homers: Ortiz (18)
RBI: Uggla (42)	RBI: Ortiz (49)
Leaders on the mound	Leaders on the mound
Wins: Hanson (8)	Wins: Buchholz/Doubront (8)
ERA: Beachy (2.00) | Kimbrel (1.38)	ERA: Beckett (4.14) | Atchison (1.17)
K's: Hanson (74)	K's: Doubront (85)

Last time

The Red Sox and Braves last met on June 26-28, and the Sox came out on top with 2 wins and a series victory. Ortiz hit a home run in the series...that's about it.

This time

Laser Show: David Ortiz & Will Middlebrooks

David Ortiz is a mainstay in this category and will be for a while. Middlebrooks is heating up again and Bobby should have him in the lineup for all 3 games.

Pitch Around: Michael Bourn

I just threw a dart at a board with Braves players and I hit Michael Bourn. This is not an over-powering offense, but guys like Bourn will beat you with small-ball. He doesn't hit for much power (6 HR, .446 SLG%), but his .310 average and 18 stolen bases can be a problem for the Sox. If he does get on base, the Sox better give him plenty of attention to prevent steals.

Don't Fall Behind: Randall Delgado & Mike Minor

Cody Ross is the only guy in the lineup that has seen these guys in the past and his numbers are pretty good. For the other Sox batters, new pitchers always seem to be a challenge. They might need an at-bat or two to feel these guys out and that could put the Sox in a tough spot if they fall behind.

How we see it goin' down

Atlanta is a much better team than the Cubs and Marlins and will not make things easy for the Sox and they just won 2 against the Yankees. The Red Sox do have the pitching advantage in the series which will persuade me to make the prediction of a 2-win series for the Sox. Part of me wants to say the Sox will drop 2, but I have a lot of confidence in the starters in this series.