Atlanta @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 20, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 9, Atlanta 18

The Atlanta Braves finally had their winning streak come to an end when the bats went silent against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday. The Braves will try to get a new streak started when they kick off a 10-game road trip at the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. Atlanta had won 10 straight before suffering the 1-0 setback to the Royals and still owns the best record in the majors at 12-2. The Pirates have won six of their last eight.

Pittsburgh’s surge has brought the team back to .500 at 7-7 and has featured wins over strong teams like Cincinnati, St. Louis and Arizona. A.J. Burnett took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in Wednesday’s 5-0 triumph over the Cardinals and Andrew McCutchen is coming around after a slow start. Atlanta has combined strong starting pitching with Justin Upton’s scorching start at the plate. The younger Upton brother was held to a single on Wednesday but leads the majors with eight home runs.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Sports South (Atlanta), ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (0-0, 7.36 ERA) vs. Pirates LH Jeff Locke (1-1, 4.09)

Teheran has been one of the few underperforming pitchers on the Atlanta staff in the early going. The promising 22-year-old has allowed a total of nine runs and 14 hits in 11 innings over two starts but has been bailed out by the offense on both occasions. Teheran made one relief appearance against Pittsburgh last season and yielded one hit in two scoreless frames.

Locke, who came up in the Atlanta system before being traded to the Pirates in the deal that sent Nate McLouth to the Braves in 2009, was roughed up in his first start but turned in a stronger effort last time out. The 25-year-old allowed one run in five innings to earn a win over Cincinnati. Locke has made one start in his career against the team that drafted him, earning a win while allowing one run on two hits in six innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Braves LHP Luis Avilan is hoping to avoid a trip to the DL with cramping and a slight strain in his left hamstring.

2. The Pirates took four of the seven meetings last season, including two of three at PNC Park.

3. Pittsburgh LHP Wandy Rodriguez (left hamstring) threw in the bullpen on Wednesday and is scheduled to pitch Friday.

PREDICTION: Braves 7, Pirates 4