Atlanta @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 7, 2013 ) Atlanta 1, LA Dodgers 2

Yasiel Puig, an electrifying 22-year-old rookie outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has brought renewed excitement and interest to the club while playing a key role in the first two games of a four-game series against the visiting Atlanta Braves. All eyes will be on Puig again Saturday night when the Dodgers try for their third win a row. He hit a grand slam in the eighth inning of Thursday’s 5-0 victory against the Braves and a game-tying homer in a 2-1 victory in 10 innings Friday. He's the second player since 1900 to hit four homers in his first five major-league games.

The Braves have scored one run in their last 20 innings, dousing the momentum they built during a five-game winning streak leading up to this series. Freddie Freeman is one of the few players still swinging the bat well on this road trip, collecting four hits in eight at-bats. Jason Heyward is 9-for-23 in the last five games to raise his average to .186. Atlanta would like to see more power as well as Heyward has six doubles and three home runs in 129 at-bats this season.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports South (Atlanta), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Kris Medlen (2-6, 3.14 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Stephen Fife (1-0, 4.50)

Medlen will try to build off his last start, when he ended a career-worst five-game losing streak by allowing no earned runs in seven innings of a 7-2 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Medlen is 2-0 in his career against the Dodgers with a 1.59 ERA, but hasn’t started against Los Angeles since 2010, when he took a three-hit shutout into the eighth at Dodger Stadium before the Braves held on for a 4-3 victory. Hanley Ramirez is 5-for-9 with a homer against Medlen.

Fife was called up earlier in the week when pitcher Chris Capuano was scratched from his scheduled start due to a triceps injury. He was solid in Monday’s outing against the San Diego Padres, when he allowed one earned run and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. The bullpen did its job and Fife was rewarded with his first major-league win in the 2-1 victory.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez is 12-for-18 with two outs and runners in scoring position this season.

2. The Dodgers are 1-7 this season when trying for a third straight win.

3. Braves OF B.J. Upton has played in 53 games this season, but has yet to hit safely in three straight games.

PREDICTION: Braves 7, Dodgers 4