Milwaukee @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 8, 2018 ) Atlanta 3, Milwaukee 10

The Milwaukee Brewers head south to open a three-game series Friday against the Atlanta Braves, and the top two teams in the National League wild-card race are anxious to move past frustrating losses Thursday. The Brewers carried a two-run lead into the ninth inning against San Diego before three relievers melted down in an 8-4 defeat, while the Braves were forced to cover six innings with a pair of pitchers making their big-league debuts in a 6-3 loss at Washington.

The Brewers hold the top wild-card spot, leading the Braves by one game, and the series features the top three hitters in the NL. Atlanta’s Nick Markakis finished 2-for-4 with his 14th homer of the season in Thursday’s loss, raising his average to a league-best .323, while Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich comes in at .319 after going 0-for-3 on Thursday and Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman sits third at .318. Freeman extended his hitting streak to 11 games with three hits Thursday, but the Braves fell for just the third time in their last 11 games. Milwaukee has dropped three of its last four games but looks for similar results from the last time the two teams met, a four-game series in early July in which the Brewers took three of four.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Dish455 (Milwaukee), FS South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Freddy Peralta (5-2, 3.54 ERA) vs. Braves RH Kevin Gausman (0-1, 5.40)

Peralta continues to impress in his rookie season, holding opponents to two runs or fewer in six of his 10 starts. The 22-year-old beat Colorado on Saturday, striking out eight while allowing two runs on two hits in six innings. Peralta, who averages 12 strikeouts per nine innings and owns a 1.03 WHIP, gave up one run on three hits with six strikeouts over six innings to defeat the Braves on July 6 in Milwaukee.

Gausman lost his first start with the Braves on Saturday against the New York Mets, giving up three runs on six hits across five innings of a 3-0 loss. Acquired at the trade deadline from Baltimore, the 27-year-old went 5-8 with a 4.43 ERA in 21 starts for the Orioles - receiving two runs or fewer of run support in eight of those appearances. Gausman has surrendered three runs or fewer in eight of his past 10 starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Milwaukee RHP Corey Knebel walked three hitters in the ninth Thursday and gave up four runs, taking the loss for the second time in his past three appearances.

2. Atlanta lost RHP Anibal Sanchez was struck in the left calf with a comebacker in the second inning Thursday, two days after the Braves lost LHP Max Fried when he was hit with a line drive. Sanchez is expected to make his next start, however.

3. Brewers INF Travis Shaw finished 8-for-19 on Milwaukee’s six-game homestand with three homers and seven RBIs.

PREDICTION: Brewers 4, Braves 3