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Atlanta is off to a sterling start that has people changing their tune for playoff favorite already. At 13-2 and the way their pitching and bats are complimenting each other, it’s hard not to blame people. But in baseball unlike any other sport, opportunity knocks quite often against the elite teams. Tim Hudson has been awfully consistent and pitching likely won’t be the main issue in the matchup vs Pittsburgh.

Look for the bats on both sides to struggle to develop base runners on, and also to advance. Atlanta’s bats have been unbelievably hot that it has caused a whole lineup to gravitate to hitting the ball out of the park.

Wandy Rodriguez will need to get himself off to a solid first three innings. Those innings will be vital. If Rodriguez does his job and the Atlanta lineup keeps trying to power the ball out, it should have a trickle affect for the extension of the baseball game.

Expect a low scoring game that will hit the under as well, but take Pittsburgh overall.