Cleveland @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2013 ) Cleveland 2, Atlanta 3

Ubaldo Jimenez takes the mound when the visiting Cleveland Indians face the Atlanta Braves in the finale of a three-game series Thursday, but no doubt the right-hander will think back to his only career victory at Turner Field. Jimenez fired a no-hitter against the Braves as a member of the Colorado Rockies on April 17, 2010, the highlight of a 19-win season. But Jimenez has won just 28 games in the four seasons since, and is 22-29 in 67 starts since being traded to Cleveland in 2011.

Atlanta has battled numerous injuries while building a 13-game lead in the National League East, but the Braves returned second baseman Dan Uggla to the lineup Wednesday. Uggla missed 12 games following Lasik eye surgery the team hopes will lead to a reduction in strikeouts. Uggla is tied for seventh in the majors with 148 strikeouts, fanning twice in his return.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, STO (Cleveland), SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Ubaldo Jimenez (9-8, 3.95 ERA) vs. Braves RH Kris Medlen (10-12, 3.74)

Jimenez matched his Cleveland high with 10 strikeouts in his last start, allowing two runs on five hits in six innings Sunday in a loss against Minnesota. He is 1-3 in August despite a 2.86 ERA, striking out 27 in 22 innings. The 29-year-old owns a 3-4 career record against the Braves.

Medlen’s streaky 2013 is trending downward again with two losses in a row, following a four-game winning streak that followed a three-loss skid. He pitched well in his last start Sunday, allowing three runs on six hits in six innings of a loss at St. Louis. He is 9-6 since June 3, after going 1-6 in the season’s opening two months.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Indians are 0-for-14 with runners in scoring position through the first two games of the series, and have left 17 runners on base.

2. Wednesday’s 3-2 victory marked the Braves’ 21st last at-bat victory this season.

3. Atlanta is 61-10 when scoring four or more runs.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Indians 2