Arizona @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2018 ) Arizona 2, Atlanta 1

The Arizona Diamondbacks enter the middle contest of a three-game series Saturday at the Atlanta Braves following a much-needed victory in the series opener, after a strange week that saw their bullpen stretched to the breaking point. Arizona slid past the Braves on Friday 2-1, getting the go-ahead hit from shortstop Nick Ahmed as starting pitcher Zack Godley and three relievers combined to hold one of the National League’s top offenses to just six hits.

Right fielder Steven Souza finished with two hits for the second consecutive game, while first baseman Paul Goldschmidt extended his hitting streak to seven games as Arizona boosted its road record to 26-20 on the season and won for just the fifth time in 12 games in July. Atlanta dropped 1 ½ games behind Philadelphia in the NL East after Sam Freeman allowed the go-ahead run in the seventh, raising the Braves’ bullpen ERA to 5.12 this month. Right fielder Nick Markakis finished with two hits, raising his average to .324 after his team-leading 39th multi-hit game of the season. The loss dropped Atlanta to 13-8 in one-run games and 21-17 in games decided by two runs or fewer.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Arizona, FS South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Zack Greinke (9-5, 3.39 ERA) vs. Braves LH Sean Newcomb (8-4, 3.44)

Greinke struggled at times in April but is rolling along, having allowed just four runs across 22 innings in his last four starts with four walks and 22 strikeouts. The 34-year-old gave up two runs in 4 1/3 innings Sunday against San Diego, ending a streak of four consecutive victories, but he is 6-1 with a 3.04 ERA in his past eight outings. Greinke, whose road ERA is 4.31 in nine starts, is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in eight career starts against Atlanta.

Newcomb makes his 19th start of the season, which matches the total he made in the majors as a rookie in 2017, and he looks to shake off a rough beginning to July. The 25-year-old posted a 2.71 ERA while going 8-2 through the end of June, but has allowed five runs in each of his first two outings this month while walking nine hitters and allowing three homers in just 6 1/3 total innings. Newcomb, who makes his first career appearance against Arizona, is 3-1 with a 2.98 ERA in seven home starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta 2B Ozzie Albies finished hitless in four at-bats Friday, the second time in 21 games he has not recorded a hit.

2. Arizona RHP Archie Bradley pitched a scoreless eighth inning Friday, the 20th time in his past 22 outings in which he has not allowed an earned run (0.89 ERA in that span).

3. The Braves recalled OF Preston Tucker from Triple-A Gwinnett before Friday’s game.

PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 3, Braves 2