Atlanta @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 2, 2018 ) Atlanta 5, NY Yankees 3

Two of the best teams in baseball and two of the highest-scoring offenses in the sport square off Tuesday in the middle contest of a three-game series when the Atlanta Braves visit the New York Yankees. Monday’s series opener did not disappoint as the Braves captured a tense 5-3, 11-inning victory, powered by rookie left fielder Ronald Acuna’s two-run homer in the 11th in a matchup of two teams at the top of their division standings.

Atlanta entered the series opener fifth in the majors in runs scored at 413, four runs behind the Yankees for fourth at 417, and rode homers from Acuna - who finished with three RBIs - and third baseman Johan Camargo to improve to 4-0 on its 10-game, three-city road trip. The Yankees continued their homer frenzy when right fielder Aaron Judge hit his 23rd longball of the season into the front row of the right-field seats in the first inning, giving New York its major league-leading 138th homer of the season. The Yankees have blasted 16 homers in their past eight games but dropped to 4-4 in that span. Second baseman Gleyber Torres finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the opener to raise his average to .296 on the season.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Sean Newcomb (8-2, 2.71 ERA) vs. Yankees RH Domingo German (2-4, 5.32)

Newcomb began the week fifth in the National League in wins, seventh in hits per nine innings (6.774) and eighth in ERA. The 25-year-old, who in his first full big-league season is a candidate to make the All-Star team, gave up three runs on seven hits in six innings with six strikeouts Wednesday against Cincinnati. Newcomb has allowed more than three earned runs only three times in his first 16 starts, limiting opponents to one run or fewer eight times while holding opposing hitters to a .210/.293/.321 slash line.

German has been inconsistent since moving into the starting rotation in early May, posting a 5.88 ERA with nine homers allowed in 49 innings across nine starts. The 25-year-old, who pitched one inning of perfect relief Wednesday against Philadelphia, gave up six runs on nine hits in three innings to lose his last start June 24 at Tampa Bay after holding Seattle to one earned run over seven innings five days earlier. German is holding left-handed hitters to a .207 average but has surrendered four or more runs in five starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Camargo, who led the Braves with 20 RBIs in June, finished 2-for-5 on Monday and is hitting .361 during his eight-game hitting streak.

2. Yankees 3B Miguel Andujar, who was named American League Rookie of the Month for June on Monday, has 39 extra-base hits through his first 77 career games.

3. Atlanta recalled RHP Evan Phillips and promoted OF Michael Reed from Triple-A Gwinnett, optioned RHP Matt Wisler to Gwinnett and placed RHP Peter Moylan on the disabled list (right forearm strain).

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Yankees 3