San Diego @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 27, 2014 ) San Diego 3, Atlanta 8

Ian Kennedy will not be on display Monday for teams interested in dealing for the San Diego Padres right-hander, as a left oblique strain will keep him from making his scheduled start at the Atlanta Braves. Kennedy, whose name has been mentioned in rumors in advance of Thursday’s trade deadline, will be replaced by Jason Lane, a former major-league outfielder who converted to pitching and will make his first big-league start on the mound at age 37. The Braves look to end a disappointing homestand with a third consecutive victory.

If Atlanta misses the playoffs, the Braves surely will look back at the past week-and-a-half as a missed opportunity. The Braves are 5-5 through the first 10 games of a homestand during which they have faced the Phillies, Marlins and Padres. San Diego gets another opportunity to hinder Atlanta’s postseason homes when the Padres host the Braves this weekend, during an Atlanta road trip that includes series at the Los Angeles Dodgers and at Seattle.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, FSN San Diego, SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Jason Lane (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Braves RH Ervin Santana (9-6, 3.87)

Lane, who hit 61 homers from 2002-07 while playing with the Astros and Padres, returned to the majors for the first time in seven years last month and fired 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief across two games. He is 6-8 with a 4.67 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A El Paso, and has pitched in 92 minor-league games since 2009. Lane had 63 strikeouts and 22 walks in 115 2/3 innings at El Paso.

Santana has been outstanding this month, going 3-1 in four starts with a 3.25 ERA. He struck out 10 in 7 1/3 innings on Wednesday against Miami, allowing one run on six hits to win his second consecutive start. Santana has won four of his past five outings, posting a 3.15 ERA during that stretch while allowing three earned runs or less in each of those four victories.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kennedy, who is 8-9 with a 3.66 ERA, is expected to start Friday or Saturday for San Diego, provided he is not traded.

2. Atlanta LF Justin Upton has hit safely in 14 of his past 20 games, with nine multi-hit games.

3. Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez gave RF Jason Heyward the day off Sunday and plans to start Jordan Schafer in center on Monday to provide B.J. Upton a day of rest.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Padres 3