Minnesota @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( May 20, 2013 ) Minnesota 1, Atlanta 5

The Atlanta Braves continue to take advantage of their home games, winning 13 of their first 18 to maintain a lead in the National League East. The Braves, who have played three fewer at home than any other team in the NL, host the struggling Minnesota Twins on Tuesday in the second contest of a three-game series. Dan Uggla belted a three-run homer Monday as the Braves posted a 5-1 victory to extend their overall winning streak to four games and their home stretch to five. Justin Upton had two hits and leads the majors with 14 homers for Atlanta.

One of the surprise teams the first month and a half of the season, the Twins have dropped six in a row – scoring two or fewer runs in four of them. Former American League MVPs Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer haven’t been the problem. In May, Morneau is batting .365 with 18 RBIs and Mauer is hitting .400 with five RBIs and 14 runs scored.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Mike Pelfrey (3-4, 6.57 ERA) vs. Braves RH Tim Hudson (4-3, 5.12)

Pelfrey recorded a pair of season-high six-inning stints before yielding five runs and eight hits over four innings en route to dropping a decision to the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday. The right-hander has given up 57 hits over 38 1/3 innings. Pelfrey has struggled against the Braves, posting a 4-9 mark in 16 appearances (15 starts) with a 5.65 ERA – all with the New York Mets. Brian McCann is 18-for-39 with two homers and 10 RBIs.

Hudson has struggled in his last two starts, allowing 11 runs in 8 2/3 innings to suffer a pair of losses. The veteran, who owns a 201-107 career record, had surrendered three or fewer runs in six of his first seven turns. Hudson has not faced Minnesota since 2010, but has a 6-3 record in 14 starts with a 2.13 ERA against the Twins. Josh Willingham is 1-for-20 with seven strikeouts against Hudson.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta CF B.J. Upton has not homered in his last 21 games and is 8-for-65 in that span, dropping his average to .143.

2. Twins OF Trevor Plouffe has hit safely in seven straight games, going 8-for-25 with four RBIs.

3. Braves 3B Chris Johnson, who did not play on Monday, is 9-for-16 in his last five contests and leads the team with 13 multi-hit games.

PREDICTION: Braves 8, Twins 2