Colorado @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2013 ) Colorado 0, Atlanta 9

There isn't a much tougher spot for Colorado Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis to make his major-league debut as he faces the red-hot Braves in Atlanta on Thursday. The Braves own baseball's best home record at 37-15 and ride a six-game winning streak entering the finale of the four-game series. Bettis, who missed 2012 with a shoulder injury and a portion of this season with an oblique ailment, reaches 97 miles per hour on his fastball while demonstrating solid command.

The Braves' lead in the National League East has grown to a whopping 11 games over the Washington Nationals and they appear to be a strong contender to win their first World Series since 1995. Freddie Freeman matched a career high with four hits in Wednesday's 9-0 victory after hitting two home runs in Tuesday's 11-3 win as the Braves have totaled 29 runs in the first three games of the series. Atlanta gives the ball to Julio Teheran, who is coming off a sharp performance against the St. Louis Cardinals.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Colorado), SportsSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Chad Bettis (NR) vs. Braves RH Julio Teheran (7-5, 3.07)

Bettis was 3-4 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.16 WHIP while striking out 68 against only 13 walks in 63 innings at Double-A Tulsa prior to his call-up. The Rockies considered converting the 24-year-old, a second-round selection in the 2010 draft out of Texas Tech, to a relief pitcher - and ultimately a closer. Colorado since realized it has a potential power pitcher on its hands who would fit nicely in the rotation and isn't afraid to challenge hitters.

Teheran yielded two hits in seven shutout innings but did not receive the victory in Atlanta's 2-0 win over St. Louis on July 27. "I think that's the best game I've ever pitched," the 22-year-old Colombian told reporters. "The command I had today, I think that's the best I've had this year." Teheran defeated the Rockies in his only start against them, yielding one run and eight hits in seven innings of a 10-2 victory in Colorado on April 23 when it was 30 degrees at game time.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies LF Carlos Gonzalez, second in the NL with 26 homers, will likely miss a couple games while continuing to battle an injury to his right middle finger, but said he will not go on the disabled list. Gonzalez, who left Wednesday's game after one at-bat after reinjuring the finger, also departed last Thursday's contest against Miami after one at-bat and sat out the next three games. He originally injured the finger July 7 in Arizona and missed the next two contests.

2. Atlanta 3B Chris Johnson recorded his sixth straight multi-hit game Wednesday to increase his NL-best batting average to .342. Johnson is 16-for-35 during his nine-game hitting streak.

3. Home plate umpire Marty Foster left Wednesday's game after he was hit by a pitch on the left arm. X-rays were negative and he is expected to return Thursday.

PREDICTION: Braves 3, Rockies 2