Atlanta @ Toronto preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 23, 2013 ) Atlanta 10, Toronto 5

The Atlanta Braves were finally slowed down, seeing their eight-game winning streak come to an end as they prepare to visit the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday in a four-game, home-and-home series to kick off interleague play. The Braves were six outs from a third consecutive series sweep before falling to the New York Mets for only their fourth defeat in 13 games. Atlanta leads the NL East but has struggled away from home, losing 11 of its last 17 road games.

The Blue Jays enter the series against the Braves on a high note after staging a dramatic ninth-inning rally Sunday, scoring four times in a walk-off victory to salvage a four-game split with Baltimore. Still, the euphoria of the stunning comeback cannot mask the shortcomings of Toronto's injury-wracked pitching staff. The Blue Jays were roughed up for 27 runs and 49 hits, including 10 homers, against the Orioles and now have to deal with another homer-happy offense.

TV: 7:07 ET, MLB Network, RSN (Toronto)

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Braves RH Tim Hudson (4-3, 4.98 ERA) vs. Blue Jays LH Mark Buehrle (1-3, 5.90)

After a strong start to the season, Hudson has gone winless in his last three outings and surrendered 13 runs in 13 2/3 innings. He did pitch well in his last start, allowing two runs on five hits in five innings against Minnesota, but it marked the third straight start in which he has failed to go past the fifth inning. Hudson has dominated the Blue Jays over his career, posting an 11-3 record and 2.79 ERA in 16 starts. Emilio Bonafacio is 7-for-18 lifetime against Hudson.

Buehrle is still struggling to find any consistency in his first year with Toronto, although he's coming off a strong effort last time out, limiting Tampa Bay to two runs on four hits in a season high-tying seven innings. It marked the second time in three outings that Buehrle went seven frames and the third straight start in which he did not surrender a home run after being tattooed for eight long balls in his previous three starts. He has faced the Braves six times, going 3-2 with a 4.84 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta tops the National League with 65 homers - two more than Toronto.

2. The series offers the possibility of Blue Jays CF Colby Rasmus facing his younger brother Cory, a reliever who made his major-league debut with Atlanta on Wednesday.

3. Slumping Braves CF B.J. Upton is 8-for-22 lifetime against Buehrle.

PREDICTION: Blue Jays 5, Braves 3