Atlanta @ Detroit preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 27, 2013 ) Atlanta 4, Detroit 7

Life on the road is starting to catch up with the Atlanta Braves, who will look to avoid a three-game sweep by the host Detroit Tigers on Sunday. The Braves have dropped three straight and seven of 10 following their blistering 12-1 start as they prepare to play their 16th road game of the young season. “This has been a long road trip," said slugger Justin Upton, who belted his major league-leading 12th home run in Saturday's 7-4 loss. "It’s starting to weigh on us a little bit, I think."

Conversely, returning home has been a boost for the Tigers, who have outscored the Braves 17-4 in the first two games to halt a slide that had seem them drop five of six entering the series. Jhonny Peralta and Omar Infante each smacked two-run homers and Detroit roughed up Kris Medlen, who allowed a career-high 10 hits. Infante, who played three seasons with Atlanta (2008-10), had three hits Saturday and is 10-for-21 during a five-game hitting streak.

TV: 8:08 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Mike Minor (3-1, 1.80 ERA) vs. Tigers RH Doug Fister (3-0, 2.00)

Minor has been outstanding in the early going, allowing a total of five runs and permitting five hits in each of his four starts. He had his worst outing last time out, giving up three runs on five hits in six innings of a 4-3 win at Colorado. Minor has struck out 21 and walked only three in 25 innings. He has surrendered more than three runs only once in his last 19 starts, dating back to last season. Minor has never faced Detroit, but Infante is 4-for-12 and Prince Fielder 3-for-3 against him.

Fister has also come out of the gate strong, winning his first three starts before taking a no-decision last time out at the Los Angeles Angels. He went seven innings and allowed three runs on five hits in that one. Fister has given up only six earned runs and has pitched at least seven innings in three of his four starts. The 6-8 Fister will be facing the Braves for the first time. Slumping B.J. Upton is 0-for-5 with a pair of walks against him in seven plate appearances.

WALK-OFFS

1. Saturday's game mark's Atlanta's first loss (15-1) when hitting a home run.

2. Tigers 3B Miguel Cabrera has 12 RBIs during an 11-game hitting streak

3. All but one of Justin Upton's homers have been solo shots.

PREDICTION: Tigers 5, Braves 3