Atlanta @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 11, 2013 ) Atlanta 2, San Diego 3

The Atlanta Braves' spectacular start to the season was fueled in large part by winning their first seven road games, but their fortunes have since taken a dramatic turn away from home. Atlanta is a major league-best 21-7 at Turner Field but back-to-back losses in San Diego have dropped the Braves below .500 (18-19) on the road. Atlanta will look to avert a three-game sweep in Wednesday afternoon's series finale against the Padres.

San Diego has pulled within three games of the .500 mark, an impressive achievement after a disastrous start that saw the team lose 15 of its first 20 games. Chase Headley, who swatted 31 homers a year ago, snapped out of a 5-for-44 funk with a home run Tuesday - his sixth blast and first extra-base hit since going deep on May 29. The Padres are 5-2 in their last seven, with five of the past six decided by one run.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, Sports South (Atlanta), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Paul Maholm (7-4, 3.46 ERA) vs. Padres RH Edinson Volquez (4-5, 6.33)

Maholm is starting to recapture the early-season form that saw him win his first three starts and not allow a run. He had his best effort since then in his last outing at the Los Angeles Dodgers, permitting one run on four hits in 7 1/3 innings. It marked the fourth time in his last five outings that Maholm has limited the opposition to two or fewer runs.

Volquez will try to rebound from a wretched performance, when he lasted only 2 1/3 innings and was battered for career highs in runs (9) and hits (11) at Colorado on Friday. He also tied his season low with one strikeout while surrendering at least four runs for the fourth time in five starts. Volquez is 1-3 with a 4.56 ERA in five career starts against Atlanta.

WALK-OFFS

1. Maholm has struggled against San Diego in his career, logging a 1-5 record and 4.02 ERA in seven starts.

2. Padres LF Carlos Quentin is batting .432 (16-for-37) over his last 10 games.

3. Braves OF Justin Upton is 7-for-12 with four doubles against Volquez.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Padres 3