Colorado @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2018 ) Colorado 5, Atlanta 3

Shortstop Trevor Story hopes to continue his assault on the Atlanta pitching staff when the visiting Colorado Rockies go after a four-game sweep of the Braves Sunday afternoon, following a thrilling rally Saturday. Story’s double ignited a two-out, three-run rally in the ninth inning Saturday and the Rockies scored twice in the 10th for a 5-3 triumph to move within one-half game of first-place Arizona in the National League West.

Story has hit safely in 14 of the last 15 games overall and is 27-for-68 with nine homers and 21 RBIs in 20 career games against Atlanta while DJ LeMahieu owns a six-game hitting streak that included the go-ahead homer Saturday. The Braves, who lead second-place Philadelphia by one-half game in the National League East, will try to rebound as veteran Anibal Sanchez takes a 4-0 record against Colorado to the mound and the Rockies counter with fellow right-hander German Marquez as they go for an eighth win in nine contests. Atlanta, which has lost four straight series to the Rockies, dropped three in a row in the set after building a five-game winning streak. Rookie Ronald Acuna Jr. was 3-for-4 with two runs scored in the setback for the Braves to extend his hitting streak to 11 games, and the outfielder reached base in Atlanta’s first at-bat of the contest for the ninth straight outing.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain (Colorado), FS South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH German Marquez (10-9, 4.51 ERA) vs. Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (6-3, 3.07)

Marquez boasts four straight quality starts and seven in his last eight trips to the mound while winning five of six decisions during that stretch. The 23-year-old Venezuelan gave up one run on three hits along with two walks to beat Houston on Tuesday and owns 34 strikeouts in his past four games. Dansby Swanson is 3-for-3 with two extra-base hits against Marquez, who yielded seven runs on seven hits and six walks over 4 2/3 innings in a loss to Atlanta on April 6.

Sanchez did not get a decision last time out against Miami after giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits across five innings in a 10-6 victory. The 34-year-old Venezuelan limited four of his last seven opponents to one run or fewer in the middle of his best season since 2013 when he won a career-high 14 games. Gerardo Parra is 10-for-19 with three doubles versus Sanchez, who permitted two runs on seven hits in a no-decision at Colorado on April 7.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta RF Nick Markakis boasts four RBIs in the last two games after going without one in his previous five contests.

2. Colorado INF-OF Ian Desmond has eight RBIs in the last three games, including a two-run double in the ninth Saturday, after going 17 games without one.

3. Acuna is one homer away from becoming the second rookie with 20 blasts and 10 steals in Braves history, joining David Justice (28, 11 in 1990).

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Rockies 3