New York @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 18, 2013 ) NY Mets 6, Atlanta 1

Shaun Marcum will hope to continue the New York Mets' recent strong run of starting pitching when they face the host Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. Dillon Gee, Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler combined to allow five runs in 21 1/3 innings with 26 strikeouts as New York won two of the first three contests of a five-game set with the National League East-leading Braves.

Marcum seeks his first victory of the season in the fourth game of the series against Atlanta’s Kris Medlen, who is four games under .500 despite a stellar 3.09 ERA. The first three games of the series all ended on Tuesday as Atlanta won Monday’s rain-delayed contest in the wee hours of the following morning before New York swept a day-night doubleheader. The Braves had lost just eight times at home before falling twice on Tuesday, and have dropped six of their past nine contests overall.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Shaun Marcum (0-8, 5.43 ERA) vs. Braves RH Kris Medlen (3-7, 3.09).

Marcum’s first season with the Mets has been difficult to say the least. His best outing came in New York’s 20-inning affair with Miami on June 8, but Marcum gave up a run after seven scoreless innings to take the loss. He was pounded by the Chicago Cubs for six runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings Friday, but he did strike out 12 Braves in a no-decision on May 26.

After back-to-back strong starts in which he did not allow an earned run in 13 2/3 innings, Medlen was roughed up for four runs on nine hits in six innings Friday against the San Francisco Giants. He struck out nine hitters in six innings in a no-decision May 24 at New York. Medlen may have solved his control issues, walking one hitter in his past 19 2/3 innings after issuing 15 in six May starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Medlen is 3-0 lifetime with a 1.92 ERA in 16 games (six starts) against New York.

2. The Mets are 2-8 in Marcum’s 10 appearances.

3. Atlanta’s bench suffered a big blow Tuesday after C/LF Evan Gattis was placed on the disabled list with a strained right oblique. Gattis leads all rookies with 14 homers.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Mets 2