Dominic Fazzini
Saturday's play
10 Dime -- BRAVES (Lowe) over Dodgers (Wolf)

BRAVES
NOTE: List only Lowe as Atlanta's starting pitcher

Braves starter Derek Lowe (10-7, 4.20 ERA) went through a little rough patch earlier in the season, but he seems to have rebounded nicely.

The veteran right-hander is 3-0 with a 2.63 ERA in his last four starts, and allowed two runs and nine hits in six innings Sunday in a 10-2 victory over Milwaukee.

Lowe will face the Dodgers for the first time since leaving Los Angeles in the offseason, and he is 0-1 with a 3.21 ERA in two career starts vs. his former team. He hasn't faced the Dodgers, though, since 2004.

Dodgers starter Randy Wolf (5-5, 3.43) has pitched well over his last six outings, going 2-2 with a 2.87 ERA. He alllowed two runs and seven hits in six innings Monday against St. Louis.

The veteran left-hander, however, is 0-4 with an 8.75 ERA in his last eight starts against Atlanta, and 4-11 with a 5.36 ERA in 25 career appearances (23 starts) against the Braves.

I think Lowe will have the Dodgers knocking his sinkerball into the ground all day. And I think Atlanta, which is 20-15 against southpaws, will get to Wolf once again. Take the Braves in this one.

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Dominic Fazzini

Today's Free Play

Angels starter Joe Saunders (8-6, 5.02 ERA) has struggled over his past six starts, going 0-2 with a 9.39 ERA.

The former All-Star left-hander allowed four runs and a season-high 10 hits Monday in five innings against Cleveland.

Saunders, however, is 2-1 with a 3.54 ERA in three career starts against the Twins, including 2-0 with a 1.20 ERA at the Metrodome.

Twins starter Anthony Swarzak (3-3, 3.74) pitched well Sunday against the Angels in Anaheim, allowing one run on four hits in 6 2/3 innings. The rookie hasn't pitched that well at home, though, going 1-3 with a 5.48 ERA in four outings.

Los Angeles, which has the best record in the American League, has been pounding the ball over its last 13 games, hitting .311 while averaging 7.4 runs per game. With a second look at Swarzak in a week, I think the Angels, who have won 11 of their last 13, will do some damage this time against the rookie. Take the Angels in this one.

3♦ L.A. ANGELS (on a 1♦ to 5♦ Scale)