Pirates-Braves: Here's what to look for

Here are some trends to keep an eye on this weekend during the Pirates series at home against Atlanta (Hint: Atlanta's Chipper Jones and Brian McCann could have big series.):

Friday: Ian Snell (Pittsburgh) vs. Tom Glavine (Atlanta)
Glavine is still looking for his first win of the season. … Glavine is 12-12 with a 3.12 career ERA against the Pirates. … Pittsburgh first baseman Adam LaRoche is 6-for-10 with a home run against his old teammate Glavine. … Jason Bay (.368, two home runs, four RBI) and Freddy Sanchez (.375) also have had success against the veteran. … McCann is 7-for-12 with three home runs and seven RBI vs. Snell while Jones is batting .333 with a home run.

Saturday: Tom Gorzelanny (Pittsburgh) vs. Chuck James (Atlanta)
James is expected to be recalled from Class AAA in time for Saturday's game. He has been battling a weak shoulder all season that also hampered him last year. … Gorzelanny returns to the Pirates' rotation after missing a start with stiffness in his lower back. … Gorzelanny also has to work out control issues. He has walked 16 batters in his last 12 2/3 innings.

Sunday: Zach Duke (Pittsburgh) vs. Jair Jurrjens (Atlanta)
Duke has pitched at least seven innings in each of his last two starts. … Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur is 6-for-11 with a home run while Jones is 5-for-13 against Duke. … Jurrjens is one of the top rookie pitchers in the majors. He was nearly traded to Pittsburgh last year by Detroit for shortstop Jack Wilson but then-general manager Dave Littlefield pulled out at the last minute and instead traded for Matt Morris.

Monday: Phil Dumatrait (Pittsburgh) vs. Tim Hudson (Atlanta)
Hudosn has allowed only three runs and nine hits in his last 16 innings. … Chris Gomez is 9-for-22, Bay is 5-for-11 with a home run and Jose Bautista is 3-for-8 with two doubles lifetime against Hudson. … Dumatrait won his first major-league game Wednesday. … Mark Teixeria has a three-run homer in his only at bat against Dumatrait and McCann had a grand slam the only time he faced Dumatrait.