Colorado @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2018 ) Colorado 5, Atlanta 3

With no team distinguishing themselves in the National League West, the Colorado Rockies are making a charge at the top spot in the division due in large part to their recent ability to pull off late-game theatrics. The Rockies set their sights on their sixth victory in seven outings Friday when they play the second of four contests in Atlanta against the Braves.

Colorado (65-56) rebounded from one of their worst losses of the season Wednesday by pulling off yet another last-minute rally in Thursday's 5-3 triumph over the Braves (68-52), moving ahead of the idle Los Angeles Dodgers and into second place in the West. The Rockies have mastered the art of snatching victory from the jaws of defeat over the last week, winning in walk-off fashion twice while taking three of four from the Los Angeles Dodgers last week before scoring three in the ninth Thursday. NL East-leading Atlanta saw a pair of notable streaks come to a halt with its loss in the opener, as the Braves were denied in their quest to win six in a row for the first time this season. While Atlanta maintained its 1 1/2-game edge on Philadelphia in the East, Ronald Acuna Jr. failed in his attempt to become the first player in club history to homer in six straight contests despite extending his hitting streak to nine games.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet (Colorado), FS South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies LH Kyle Freeland (10-7, 3.02 ERA) vs. Braves LH Sean Newcomb (10-5, 3.40)

Freeland turned in one of the more dominant outings of his career in a no-decision Saturday versus the Dodgers, yielding two runs while striking out a personal-best 10 across seven innings. The Denver native tossed seven scoreless frames against Pittsburgh five days earlier and has allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of his last 11 turns. Nick Markakis is 5-for-9 with two solo homers versus Freeland, who gave up three runs over six innings in an April 8 loss to Atlanta.

Newcomb was fortunate to escape with a no-decision Sunday versus Milwaukee after surrendering five runs on a career-high 12 hits and two walks on 96 pitches over four innings. The poor outing ended a two-game stretch in which the 25-year-old permitted a total of two runs on six hits while fanning 14 across his previous 14 2/3 frames. Newcomb outdueled Freeland to get the victory in early April in Colorado, working six scoreless innings while tying a career high with nine strikeouts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Rockies INF Ryan McMahon has delivered the game-tying or game-winning hit in three of his club's last five victories.

2. Atlanta RHP Brad Brach on Thursday gave up his first three runs - all unearned - in eight appearances since his late-July trade from Baltimore.

3. Colorado improved to 3-45 when trailing after eight innings, although two of the three victories have come over the last six days.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Rockies 2