Cincinnati @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 11, 2013 ) Cincinnati 5, Atlanta 6

The goal for the Cincinnati Reds and the host Atlanta Braves is the same as the two teams meet Friday for the second contest of a four-game series. The Reds and Braves would like to enjoy a late lead as they both feature two of the majors’ best relief corps - Atlanta relievers rank first in baseball with a 2.66 ERA and Cincinnati’s bullpen owns a 28 2/3 innings scoreless streak. Both teams are capable of rallying, however, as the Braves and Reds each own 14 victories in their last at-bat.

Atlanta improved its majors-best home record to 30-13 with a 6-5 victory in the series opener Thursday, and holds the largest lead of any division frontrunner (six games). The Braves lost right fielder Jason Heyward to a strained right hamstring in the second inning; he will be re-evaluated Friday. Cincinnati is 1-3 on its current seven-game road trip and will play 10 of its first 13 games away from home after the All-Star break.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati), Fox Sports South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Bronson Arroyo (7-7, 3.55 ERA) vs. Braves RH Kris Medlen (6-8, 3.45).

Arroyo has dropped two of his past three starts, including a 3-1 loss on Saturday against the Mariners in which he allowed three runs on five hits in six innings. The 16-year veteran has struggled away from home, going 1-5 with a 5.70 ERA and only 14 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings on the road. He gave up four runs on eight hits in five innings in a loss to the Braves on May 6.

Medlen’s three-start winning streak ended Sunday at Philadelphia after he surrendered a season-high seven runs (six earned) in 5 1/3 innings. Still, Medlen has rebounded nicely from a 1-6 start, going 5-2 in his past seven outings with seven walks in his last 45 innings. He pitched well in a 5-4 loss at Cincinnati on May 7, allowing two runs on four hits in seven innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta 3B Chris Johnson singled in four at-bats Thursday to push his hitting streak to 12 games. He is hitting .396 in that stretch.

2. Cincinnati CF Shin-Soo Choo extended his hitting streak to nine games with two hits Thursday. He is hitting .405 during the streak.

3. Atlanta LF Justin Upton had three hits Thursday, and is hitting .344 in his past seven games with six runs scored, six doubles and seven RBIs.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Reds 3