Atlanta @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 2, 2013 ) Atlanta 6, Philadelphia 4

The Philadelphia Phillies continue to juggle their starting rotation due to injuries. Philadelphia hosts the Atlanta Braves on Saturday in the middle game of a three-game set and will send left-hander John Lannan to the mound on three days' rest after placing rookie Jonathan Pettibone on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a strained right shoulder. Cliff Lee, who was skipped Friday due to a stiff neck, is now slated to start Sunday night’s series finale.

Atlanta won 6-4 in Friday’s series opener, pushing its advantage over the third-place Phillies to 14 1/2 games. Third baseman Chris Johnson, included in the deal that brought Justin Upton to the Braves from Arizona, set an Atlanta franchise record by posting multiple hits in his eighth consecutive game Friday. Johnson went 2-for-4 and leads the National League in hitting at .347.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Brandon Beachy (0-0, 17.18 ERA) vs. Phillies LH John Lannan (3-4, 4.10).

Beachy’s return to the majors following Tommy John elbow surgery did not go smoothly Monday, as he allowed seven earned runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings against the Colorado Rockies. The 26-year-old did strike out five and walked just one. Beachy posted a 2.93 ERA in nine minor-league rehab starts, and was 5-5 with a 2.00 ERA in 13 starts last season before injuring his elbow.

The 28-year-old Lannan gave up three earned runs on seven hits in seven innings to beat San Francisco on Tuesday, the third time in five July starts that he pitched at least seven innings. The left-hander is 9-5 in 16 career starts against Atlanta, those outings coming as a member of the Washington Nationals from 2007-2012. He missed two months earlier this season with a strained tendon in his left knee.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Phillies have lost 11 of their past 12, scoring just 28 runs during that stretch.

2. Atlanta 2B Dan Uggla is hitting .360 with one homer and six walks in 25 at-bats against Lannan.

3. Three Braves’ relievers struck out seven Philadelphia hitters in three innings Friday.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Phillies 4