Atlanta @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 22, 2013 ) Atlanta 0, Milwaukee 2

The Atlanta Braves' offense has gone into a deep freeze and not even a string of solid pitching performances has been able to compensate for the shortcomings. The Braves will look to avoid a three-game sweep and halt a 24-inning scoreless drought in Sunday's series finale at the Milwaukee Brewers. Atlanta has been shut out a major league-high 11 times after managing a total of six hits and losing the first two games by identical 2-0 scores.

The back-to-back shutouts stretched Milwaukee's home winning streak over the Braves to eight games, during which the Brewers have outscored Atlanta 31-9. A patchwork starting rotation continues to thrive for Milwaukee, allowing fewer than two runs seven times in the last 12 games. The Brewers have recorded three shutouts in the past seven contests after failing to notch one over the first 66 games of the season.

TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, SportsSouth (Atlanta), FSN Wisconsin (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Paul Maholm (7-6, 3.57 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Alfredo Figaro (1-1, 3.88)

Maholm lost his second straight start last time out, giving up two runs and nine hits over seven innings in a 6-1 loss to the New York Mets. He is winless in his last three outings despite surrendering a total of seven earned runs, but he hasn't been helped by Atlanta scoring only five runs in that span. Maholm has struggled mightily vs. Milwaukee with a 3-11 record in 22 starts.

Figaro will be making his fifth start - and possibly his last - with fresh arms due to return to Milwaukee's starting rotation. He lasted only 4 1/3 innings last time out in Houston, allowing five runs - four earned - in a 10-1 loss. He was outstanding in his previous start, blanking Miami on three hits over seven innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Brewers 3B Aramis Ramirez needs one hit to reach 2,000 for his career.

2. Braves RF Jason Heyward is mired in a 2-for-17 slide, while C Brian McCann has one hit in 16 at-bats.

3. Milwaukee RHP Francisco Rodriguez became the 25th pitcher to register 300 career saves on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Braves 3