Spring Training Game 31 Preview/Thread: Braves at Tigers

Atlanta Braves at Detroit Tigers

Time/Place: 1:00 p.m., Joker Marchant Stadium

SB Nation Blog: Talking Chop

Media: Tigers Radio Network

Pitching Matchup: RHP Tim Hudson (16-7, 3.62 ERA in 2012) vs. RHP Shawn Hill (10-18, 4.69 ERA in career)

Tigers also scheduled to pitch: RHP Bruce Rondon, RHP Octavio Dotel, LHP Phil Coke

Braves also scheduled to pitch: TBA

Tigers lineup:

Braves lineup:

Analysis!

• Based on his current place in the spring rotation, Shawn Hill is not in line to start on either Opening Day or in the Tigers' home opener. It was a close call, though.
• Tim Hudson is apparently working on a knuckleball. We're all doomed.
• The Tigers currently lead the Braves by 1.5 games in the Grapefruit League standings. The Baltimore Orioles are in first place, while the New York Yankees are in last simply due to the fact that they traded for Vernon Wells.
• There is no word yet whether Phil Coke's Brain will write the portion of the game recap where he was in charge of things, or if he will offer us inside info on what happened on the mound. We'll let you know once he stops throwing monkey poo at Kurt.