Colorado @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2018 ) Colorado 11, Atlanta 5

The Colorado Rockies have been one of the hottest teams in the majors for almost two months and are close to taking over first place in the National League West as they visit the Atlanta Braves on Saturday night. The Rockies have won six of their last seven and are 28-14 since June 28 after pounding out 16 hits in an 11-5 victory over the Braves on Friday to remain 1 1/2 games behind NL West leader Arizona.

DJ LeMahieu had three hits Friday to improve to 9-for-24 during his five-game hitting streak for Colorado and has punished Atlanta’s scheduled Saturday starter Mike Foltynewicz in his career, going 11-for-15 against the right-hander. Antonio Senzatela returns from the disabled list to make the start for the Rockies as Colorado tries to clinch a fourth straight series victory over the Braves. Atlanta lost for the second straight day, following a run of five straight victories, to see its lead in the NL East shrink to one-half game over Philadelphia after allowing 16 runs in the first two matchups of the series. Rookie phenom Ronald Acuna Jr. reached base in the Braves’ first at-bat of the contest for the eighth straight outing and extended his hitting streak to 10 games, in which he has 18 hits - eight of them homers.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Antonio Senzatela (4-3, 4.56 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (10-7, 2.86)

Senzatela (shoulder) is expected to be activated and make his sixth start of the season after opening his campaign in the bullpen. The 23-year-old Venezuelan permitted one run in each of his last two starts, earning one victory while yielding 10 hits and six walks over 11 2/3 innings combined. Senzatela, who is 1-3 on the road as opposed to 3-0 at home in 2018, did not allow a hit in two scoreless innings of relief last year against Atlanta.

Foltynewicz has strung together three straight wins, allowing six runs (four earned) across 19 2/3 innings combined with 19 strikeouts and six walks. The 26-year-old Illinois native limited Miami to one run and five hits over eight innings Monday to match his career-best win total. Carlos Gonzalez is also 3-for-10 with a homer versus Foltynewicz, who is 0-4 with a 5.14 ERA in seven career appearances (five starts) against the Rockies.

WALK-OFFS

1. Acuna needs one homer and one stolen base to become the first Atlanta rookie with 20 blasts and 10 thefts since David Justice in 1990.

2. Colorado SS Trevor Story had three hits Friday and is 25-for-63 with nine homers and 21 RBIs in 19 career games versus Atlanta.

3. Braves RH Nick Markakis had an RBI single in the ninth inning Friday to snap an 0-for-14 slump and also launched a sacrifice fly in the first.

PREDICTION: Braves 6, Rockies 2