Atlanta @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 26, 2018 ) NY Yankees 5, Atlanta 1

The Atlanta Braves have gotten off to a great start on their 10-game road trip and hope to continue their success as they begin a three-game interleague series between a pair of division leaders when they visit the New York Yankees on Monday. Atlanta began its trek with a three-game sweep in St. Louis, outscoring the Cardinals 22-10 to remain three games in front of Philadelphia in the National League East.

The Braves managed only six hits Sunday but built a six-run lead before holding on for a 6-5 triumph as Ozzie Albies extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Charlie Culberson notched two hits and a pair of RBIs while Freddie Freeman belted a solo homer to end his 12-game drought as Atlanta scored at least five runs for the eighth time in nine contests. New York, which shares first place in the American League East with Boston, turned on the power Sunday as it clinched a series victory against the rival Red Sox with an 11-1 rout in which it belted six home runs - with Aaron Hicks recording his first career three-homer performance. Kyle Higashioka notched his first career hit with a solo blast while Aaron Judge and rookie Gleyber Torres also went deep as the Yankees increased their major league-leading homer total to 137, which eclipsed the franchise mark for most prior to the All-Star break.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (3-2, 2.68 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Jonathan Loaisiga (2-0, 1.93)

Sanchez failed to last five innings against Cincinnati on Tuesday and suffered his second straight loss after yielding two runs and five hits in 4 2/3 frames. The 34-year-old Venezuelan registered 28 strikeouts over 29 innings in five outings last month while issuing only eight walks - four of which came in a setback at Toronto on June 20. Sanchez has fared well against the Yankees in his career, going 4-1 with a 3.79 ERA in six starts.

Loaisiga hopes to make it through six innings for the first time as he takes his fourth overall turn in the rotation and third at home. The 23-year-old Nicaraguan rookie earned the victory at Philadelphia last Monday after allowing one hit and two walks while recording eight strikeouts in 5 1/3 scoreless frames. It was the second outing without a run scored against Loaisiga, who has not served up a home run over 14 career innings while limiting opponents to a .204 batting average.

WALK-OFFS

1. Yankees C Austin Romine (hamstring) is day-to-day after the results of his MRI came back negative.

2. Atlanta's starting pitchers lead the NL with a 3.31 ERA after tossing 17 2/3 scoreless innings against St. Louis in the three-game sweep.

3. New York optioned Giovanny Gallegos to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday and purchased the contract of fellow RHP David Hale from the RailRiders.

PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Braves 3