San Francisco @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( May 12, 2013 ) Atlanta 1, San Francisco 5

The Atlanta Braves return home on Friday after being swept in San Diego, and will face the last team to hand them three losses in a row. The San Francisco Giants defeated Atlanta at home May 10-12, outscoring the Braves 23-4. The Giants have struggled away from home, going 13-20 this season but improving to 3-3 on their current nine-game road trip after Thursday’s victory in Pittsburgh.

San Francisco second baseman Marco Scutaro, who is batting .332, has not played since being hit on the left hand with a pitch Tuesday. The Giants already have lost Pablo Sandoval (foot) and Angel Pagan (hamstring) to injury. The Braves are healthy and still on top of the National League East, despite an offense that is next-to-last in the league in average with runners in scoring position (.228).

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), Fox Sports South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (5-4, 3.58 ERA) vs. Braves RH Kris Medlen (3-6, 2.87).

Bumgarner defeated the Diamondbacks in his last start on Saturday, allowing three earned runs in five innings to win for the first time since beating the Braves May 11. Bumgarner dominated Atlanta in that earlier matchup, striking out 11 and holding the Braves to one earned run on four hits in seven innings. He is 1-3 with a 3.60 ERA in five career starts against Atlanta.

Medlen has won his past two starts after not allowing an earned run and striking out 12 with one walk in 13 2/3 innings. The right-hander beat the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Saturday, scattering five hits in 6 2/3 innings. Medlen is 15th in the NL in ERA; he and Stephen Strasburg are the only pitchers in the top 15 with fewer than five victories.

WALK-OFFS

1. Medlen belted hit first major-league homer in his last start.

2. San Francisco 3B Joaquin Arias had three hits Thursday, and is hitting .375 on the road trip while filling in for Sandoval.

3. Atlanta RF Jason Heyward is hitting .395 during his 10-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Giants 3