Atlanta @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 11, 2014 ) Atlanta 2, Colorado 8

The Colorado Rockies put on a pair of offensive displays the last two games but will need another solid pitching performance to earn a split of a four-game series when they host the Atlanta Braves in the finale on Thursday. Colorado lost despite scoring 10 runs on Tuesday and is having some trouble finding the pitching to go with the offense. The Braves are 3-3 on their current road trip, which wraps up with Thursday’s finale.

Atlanta took the first two games of the series, including a 13-10 slugfest on Tuesday, but could not touch rookie Tyler Matzek in his major-league debut on Wednesday and ended up suffering an 8-2 loss. That marked just the second win in 13 games for the Rockies, who had allowed an average of 7.4 runs in the 12 contests prior to Matzek’s gem. Colorado plugged Josh Rutledge in at second base and the No. 2 spot in the offense in the last two games and was rewarded with a 5-for-7 showing with six runs scored in the contests.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Ervin Santana (5-2, 3.69 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jhoulys Chacin (0-4, 5.35)

Santana posted his strongest start in nearly a month on Saturday, when he allowed just an unearned run on six hits in seven innings without factoring in the decision. The Dominican Republic native struck out a season-low one in that start while issuing a pair of walks. Santana is making his fourth career start against Colorado and went 2-0 despite a 5.59 ERA in the first three.

Chacin is still looking for his first win but did post a quality start by holding the Los Angeles Dodgers to three runs over six innings on Saturday. The Venezuela native collected as many walks as strikeouts (eight) in the last two games. Chacin has never beaten Atlanta, owning an 0-2 record with a 6.23 ERA in three career chances.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies 1B Justin Morneau recorded his 900th career RBI and 700th career run scored on Wednesday.

2. Atlanta 3B Chris Johnson is 8-for-13 in the series.

3. Colorado LHP Brett Anderson (finger) and RHP Tyler Chatwood (flexor tendon) are both scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Friday.

PREDICTION: Braves 8, Rockies 6