Arizona @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 26, 2017 ) Atlanta 3, Arizona 10

The Arizona Diamondbacks arrive in Atlanta to open the final series before the All-Star break Friday against the Braves, and will need their bullpen to stabilize after two rough outings in a row. One day after Arizona relievers allowed 14 runs in a blowout loss at Colorado that forced the Diamondbacks to cover 4 2/3 innings with position players pitching, the bullpen gave up three runs late Thursday in a 5-1 defeat - Arizona’s ninth loss in its past 13 games.

One encouraging sign for the Diamondbacks continues to be the resurgence of first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who collected two more hits Thursday to raise his average to .370 in his past 44 games, as he has lifted his average from .198 to .284. Another hitter on display in the series also is in the midst of a hot streak as Atlanta second baseman Ozzie Albies is batting .418 with four homers and 20 runs scored in his past 20 games, adding 40 points to hit average to .288. The Braves had dropped 11 of their previous 18 games before Albies sparked Wednesday’s 7-5 triumph over Toronto with two homers and four RBIs. Albies first career multi-homer game gives him 20 on the season, and snapped Atlanta’s season-long five-game homerless streak.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Godley (10-6, 4.80 ERA) vs. Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (4-2, 2.72)

Godley makes his 19th start of the season three days after he fired a scoreless 15th inning in Sunday’s 4-3, 16-inning loss to San Diego. The 28-year-old has struggled with control, walking 52 hitters and allowing 12 homers over 99 1/3 innings one season after issuing 53 walks and allowing 15 homers across 155 innings. Godley, who held San Diego to one run on four hits with seven strikeouts to win his last start July 6, is 0-1 in two career starts against Atlanta with 13 earned runs allowed in 11 innings.

Sanchez becomes even more important to Atlanta with every start given injuries to the rotation, and the 34-year-old keeps enjoying a bounce-back campaign. He has limited opponents to two earned runs or fewer in seven of his 10 starts, giving up one run on two hits with one walk and eight strikeouts Saturday in a 5-1 victory at Milwaukee. Sanchez is 4-1 with a 4.47 ERA in eight career games against the Diamondbacks, allowing three earned runs in one inning of a relief stint last season while with Detroit.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Braves are 31-11 when their starting pitcher works at least six innings.

2. The Diamondbacks recalled RHP Matt Koch and RHP Silvino Bracho from Triple-A Reno before Thursday’s game, placing RHP Shelby Miller (right elbow inflammation) and LHP T.J. McFarland (left neck strain) on the disabled list after both were injured Wednesday.

3. The two teams met in Atlanta in the first series after the All-Star break last season as the Braves swept the three-game set while outscoring Arizona 19-9.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Diamondbacks 2