Atlanta @ St. Louis preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2013 ) Atlanta 2, St. Louis 6

Adam Wainwright can move into a tie for the National League lead in victories if the St. Louis Cardinals’ ace defeats the visiting Atlanta Braves on Friday. Wainwright, who was stuck on 13 wins for nearly a month before beating the Cubs on Sunday, would be a strong favorite for the NL Cy Young Award if not for Los Angeles’ Clayton Kershaw. Wainwright is tied for the major-league lead with four complete games, and his 27th start of the season will move him into a tie for the most in baseball.

Atlanta leads the NL East by 14 games, but the Braves received more bad injury news Thursday. Pitcher Brandon Beachy, five starts into his comeback from Tommy John surgery, will miss his scheduled start Sunday and is expected to visit Dr. James Andrews on Monday after his velocity dropped in the final inning Tuesday against the Mets. Braves right fielder Jason Heyward suffered a broken jaw when he was hit with a pitch Wednesday in New York and is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks.

TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN South (Atlanta), FSN Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Kris Medlen (10-11, 3.71 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (14-7, 2.66)

Medlen was pressed into relief duty in Saturday’s 15-inning loss against Washington, ending a four-game winning streak when he surrendered Adam LaRoche’s game-winning homer. Still, the 27-year-old appears to have rediscovered the form that made him one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2012, posting a 3.46 ERA with four walks and 23 strikeouts during his win streak. He started the streak by beating the Cardinals July 28, allowing two runs in six innings.

Wainwright leads the majors in inducing double-play grounders (28). He lost at Atlanta on July 26, surrendering four runs (three earned) in seven innings. Wainwright is 6-2 with a 3.09 ERA lifetime against the Braves, the team which took the Brunswick, Ga., native with their first selection in the 2000 draft.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta signed 2B Elliot Johnson off the waiver wire from Tampa Bay on Thursday. Johnson started the series opener, going 2-for-4.

2. St. Louis P Jake Westbrook is battling lingering back stiffness that might keep the right-hander from making his scheduled start Monday against Cincinnati.

3. Atlanta RF Justin Upton returned to the lineup Thursday after missing two games with an upper back strain and hit his 24th homer.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 5, Braves 3