Philadelphia @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 12, 2013 ) Philadelphia 5, Atlanta 1

Kris Medlen is the only current member of the Atlanta Braves’ rotation to start a playoff game, and the right-hander has not lost since the National League East leaders lost veteran Tim Hudson to a season-ending ankle injury. Medlen starts Tuesday at home against Philadelphia on a three-start winning streak, and the 27-year-old is back on another upswing in what has been an up-and-down campaign. Medlen, who started and lost last season’s NL wild-card game, lost his previous three starts before the current winning streak.

The Phillies snapped an 11-game road losing streak by taking Monday’s series opener 5-1. Second baseman Chase Utley collected two hits and is hitting .288 in 44 games since coming off the disabled list with an oblique strain on June 21. Philadelphia has lost nine of its past 12 games and has dropped 17 of 22 games since the All-Star break.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Philadelphia), SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Ethan Martin (1-1, 6.75 ERA) vs. Braves RH Kris Medlen (9-10, 3.85)

Martin made his major-league debut against Atlanta on Aug. 2, allowing six runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings. He posted his first victory six days later, holding the Cubs to one earned run on four hits in five innings as Philadelphia won 12-1. The 24-year-old Martin, who grew up about 95 miles northeast of Atlanta in Toccoa, Ga., has 10 strikeouts in 9 1/3 innings.

Medlen held Washington to three runs on three hits in seven innings Wednesday in his last start, and has surrendered nine earned runs in 19 innings during his winning streak. Medlen beat the Phillies on Aug. 2 despite allowing three homers, but is 1-2 with a 6.61 ERA in three starts against Philadelphia this season. The right-hander has a 3.23 ERA in 11 home starts, allowing three homers in 64 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta RF Jason Heyward is hitting .361 with 18 runs scored in 16 games since moving into the leadoff spot.

2. Philadelphia 3B Cody Asche came into Monday hitting .194, but went 2-for-4 with a homer, two runs scored and three RBIs in the series opener to raise his average to .225.

3. Philadelphia P Roy Halladay, recovering from right shoulder surgery, is expected to make his first minor-league rehab start Thursday in the Gulf Coast League.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Phillies 3