Atlanta @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 28, 2014 ) San Diego 0, Atlanta 2

New arrivals James Russell and Emilio Bonifacio will be in uniform Friday when the Atlanta Braves begin a three-game series against the host San Diego Padres, who were also active at Thursday’s trade deadline. The Braves bolstered their bullpen by acquiring the left-handed Russell from the Chicago Cubs and added some much-needed speed with the addition of utilityman Emilio Bonifacio in the same trade. Atlanta sits 1 1/2 games behind first-place Washington in the National League East after going 13-13 in July.

The Padres continued their rebuilding effort Thursday by trading outfielder Chris Denorfia to Seattle for outfielder Abraham Almonte and minor-league reliever Stephen Kohlscheen. The 25-year-old Almonte, who hit .198 in 106 at-bats for the Mariners earlier this season, will look to reboot his career when he joins the Padres on Friday. “He’s a good player, versatile, a switch-hitter who has performed well recently,” Padres assistant general manager A.J. Hinch told reporters. “He hasn’t broken through at the big league level yet, but he gives us a versatile piece in the outfield.”

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Mike Minor (4-6, 5.23 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Stults (3-13, 5.22)

Minor recorded his third quality start in his last nine outings last Sunday by holding the Padres to three runs on eight hits over 6 2/3 innings. It marked an encouraging sign for the struggling 26-year-old, who posted a 7.65 ERA with just one victory over his previous eight starts. Minor is 10-5 in 22 starts against NL West opponents, including 1-2 with a 4.34 ERA in three career starts against San Diego.

Stults is facing off against Minor for the second straight start after allowing six runs over six innings in the Padres’ 8-3 loss last Sunday. The 34-year-old has allowed three or fewer runs in 14 of his last 20 starts, but he enters Friday’s contest tied with Minnesota’s Kevin Correia for the most losses in the majors. Stults, who is 2-3 with a 3.60 ERA in eight career games (four starts) against the Braves, owns a 4.50 ERA in nine home starts this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres C Yasmani Grandal missed Thursday’s game because of fluid buildup in his surgically-repaired right knee and is listed as day-to-day.

2. Atlanta OF Jason Heyward is expected to miss his fourth straight game with a sore back, but he’s hoping to return Saturday.

3. San Diego OF Will Venable is 3-for-7 with two home runs and five RBIs over his last two games.

PREDICTION: Braves 7, Padres 3