Kyle Kendrick and the Rockies host Alex Wood and the Braves in tonight's series opener

Tonight the Rockies open a four game set with the Atlanta Braves to close out the first half of the season. After entering the 2015 season with little expected of them in the midst of a rebuild, the Braves are just one game back of .500 entering tonight’s game.

Kyle Kendrick takes the hill for the Rockies, coming off of a no decision in last Friday’s loss to the Diamondbacks, where he allowed three runs and struck out six in 5 2/3 innings. The veteran right hander enters today’s game with an even 6.00 ERA on the season. Kendrick will not have to face Braves’ first baseman Freddie Freeman, who is still on the disabled list with a nagging wrist injury. Freeman owns 11 career home runs against the Rockies, second only to the division rival New York Mets.

Instead, Rockies pitchers will have to look out for the bats of Braves new comer Nick Markakis, rookie Jace Peterson and speedy center fielder Cameron Maybin. Maybin is batting a clean .400 in the last seven games, while leading the club with 15 stolen bases on the year.

Alex Wood has put together a solid first half for the Braves -- a 3.34 ERA in just under 100 innings of work. Wood has really found his streak on the road this year, improving his winning percentage to .714, with an ERA of 2.43 away from Turner Field. The 24-year old lefty has allowed just six home runs this season, all to right handed batters. Righties boast a .301 batting average against him.

Carlos Gonzalez is one of only two left handed bats in the starting lineup for the Rockies. CarGo owns a career .300 average against Atlanta. Nolan Arenado will move up to the #2 spot in the batting order tonight. DJ LeMahieu -- who has hit second in 39 games this season -- will slide into the sixth spot.

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<h3>Today's Lineups</h3>

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<th align="left">ATLANTA BRAVES</th>

<th align="left">COLORADO ROCKIES</th>

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<tr><td class="td-last td-name">Jace Peterson - 2B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Charlie Blackmon - CF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Cameron Maybin - CF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Nolan Arenado - 3B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Nick Markakis - RF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Troy Tulowitzki - SS</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Kelly Johnson - LF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Wilin Rosario - 1B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Juan Uribe - 3B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Carlos Gonzalez - RF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">A.J. Pierzynski - C</td><td class="td-first td-name">DJ LeMahieu - 2B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Chris Johnson - 1B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Nick Hundley - C</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Andrelton Simmons - SS</td><td class="td-first td-name">Drew Stubbs - LF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Alex Wood - LHP</td><td class="td-first td-name">Kyle Kendrick - RHP</td></tr></tbody>

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