San Diego @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 12, 2013 ) Atlanta 3, San Diego 5

The Atlanta Braves can move closer to wrapping up the National League East crown when they open a three-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres on Friday. Atlanta has an 11-game lead over the Washington Nationals and its magic number to clinch the division stands at six. The Braves are the best home team in the majors with a 51-20 mark, while San Diego is one of the worst road clubs with a 25-46 record.

Atlanta's Freddie Freeman reached 20 homers for the third straight season when he hit a two-run blast in Thursday’s 6-1 win over the Miami Marlins and is two RBIs shy of driving in 100 for the first time in his career. David Hale makes his first major-league start for the Braves, and the first batter he faces likely will be the torrid-hitting Will Venable, who hit his 22nd homer in Thursday’s 10-5 loss to Philadelphia. Chase Headley drove in his 41st run - well short of his 2012 NL-leading total of 115.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN (San Diego), SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Ian Kennedy (6-9, 4.86 ERA) vs. Braves RH David Hale (NR)

Kennedy is 3-1 with a 3.76 ERA in seven starts since being acquired from Arizona. He has allowed two or fewer runs five times since joining the Padres after experiencing a rough first half with the Diamondbacks. Kennedy is 1-0 with a 5.79 ERA in two starts against Atlanta while with Arizona and 2-0 with a 3.64 ERA in five career outings versus the Braves.

Hale is starting in place of left-hander Paul Maholm, who was scratched due to pain in his pitching elbow. He was a third-round pick of the Braves in 2009 and went 6-9 with a 3.22 ERA in 22 appearances (20 starts) at Triple-A Gwinnett. Hale grew up just north of Atlanta in the suburb of Marietta.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta 3B Chris Johnson went 3-for-5 on Thursday to raise his average to .330, second-best in the NL behind Colorado’s Michael Cuddyer (.334).

2. Padres 1B Tommy Medica went 3-for-8 with a homer and two RBIs in his first two major-league games.

3. Freeman is 3-for-5 with a homer and seven RBIs against Kennedy.

PREDICTION: Braves 6, Padres 4