Atlanta @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 20, 2013 ) Atlanta 1, Pittsburgh 3

It's still very early, but the Pittsburgh Pirates are sending a statement in their first major homestand of the season by taking care of three of the best teams in the National League. After sweeping three from Cincinnati and splitting a pair with St. Louis, the Pirates on Sunday have a chance to win a four-game set against the Atlanta Braves, which entered the series with a 12-2 record. Pittsburgh has won eight of 11 overall after a four-game slide.

The Pirates have done it with pitching. A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez and James McDonald, three of the team's last four starters, have combined to allow a measly four hits in 20 innings. Atlanta hit four home runs in taking the series opener, but has been stymied since, including a 3-1 loss Saturday. The Braves also continue to rely a bit too much on the home run. They are 13-0 when hitting one, but 0-4 when failing to do so.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Fox Sports South (Atlanta), ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Kris Medlen (1-1, 1.42 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Jonathan Sanchez (0-2, 12.96)

Medlen, who was an absolute force down the stretch last year for Atlanta, had a rather ordinary opening to his 2013 campaign. He has since returned to his dominant form, though. Medlen has allowed one earned run in 14 innings over his last two starts, leading the Braves to a pair of wins. Those gems give Medlen an ERA of 1.02 since the 2012 All-Star break - tops in the majors - and he is 11-1 in that span. He is also 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA in four games (two starts) against Pittsburgh in his career.

While Medlen is coasting, Sanchez continues to be a mess. The one-time standout in the San Francisco rotation has been pounded in 8 1/3 innings, including a stinker April 10 in Arizona in which he gave up nine runs in 3 1/3 frames. This marks Sanchez's first start at PNC Park as a member of the Pirates. He owns a 5.91 ERA in two career starts in Pittsburgh and is 1-3 with a 5.45 mark lifetime versus the Braves. Unless something changes in a hurry, Sanchez will lose his spot once some of the injured Pirates starters return to health.

WALK-OFFS

1. Braves 2B Dan Uggla left Saturday's game with a left calf strain.

2. Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen has a home run, a triple and a walk in eight plate appearances against Medlen.

3. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman went 5-for-5 with two doubles Saturday in his second rehab game with Triple-A Gwinnett.

PREDICTION: Braves 7, Pirates 2