Atlanta @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2018 ) Atlanta 1, Pittsburgh 0

The Atlanta Braves rebounded from a rough weekend with a big effort in the series opener and will try to build off that Tuesday night when they visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second of a three-game set. Six pitchers limited the Pirates to seven hits Monday as the Braves extended their lead in the National League East to one game over Philadelphia with a 1-0 victory after losing four in a row.

Nick Markakis knocked in Freddie Freeman with a single in the first inning for Atlanta’s only run and teammate Johan Camargo registered his fifth multi-hit game in eight outings with three hits, improving to 12-for-30 in that span. Kevin Gausman, who was pushed back a day in favor of 20-year-old rookie Bryse Wilson on Monday, will get the call in the second game of the series for the Braves while veteran Ivan Nova tries to remain unbeaten in his career against Atlanta. Pittsburgh (63-63) has been shut out 1-0 three times in the last five games - in which it has combined for five runs total - and dropped to the .500 mark with a sixth loss in eight contests. Corey Dickerson had a single in four at-bats Monday for the Pirates and is 10-for-25 during a six-game hitting streak that has raised his team-best batting average to .308.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Kevin Gausman (7-9, 4.22 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Ivan Nova (7-7, 4.26)

Gausman has won his last two starts with the Braves after limiting Miami to two runs over six innings on Wednesday and Milwaukee to one run across eight frames five days earlier. The 27-year-old LSU product surrendered six runs on 16 hits with 12 strikeouts and four walks across 19 innings since being acquired from Baltimore. David Freese is 2-for-6 with a homer versus Gausman, who is 0-1 with an 8.44 ERA in two career turns against Pittsburgh.

Nova has been solid in his last two starts, permitting two runs over six innings to win at San Francisco on Aug. 9 before limiting the Chicago Cubs to one run across 6 2/3 frames in a tough-luck loss Thursday. The 31-year-old Dominican allowed two homers over his last six starts after serving up 19 in his first 17 contests this year. Markakis is 14-for-42 with four doubles and a homer against Nova, who is 3-0 with a 1.69 ERA versus Atlanta in his career.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh CF Starling Marte was held out of the starting lineup Monday after manager Clint Hurdle was reportedly upset with his hustle on Sunday.

2. Atlanta LHP A.J. Minter was unavailable Monday due to back tightness and is questionable for Tuesday's contest.

3. The Pirates recalled LHP Steven Brault on Monday and optioned LHP Buddy Boshers to Triple-A Indianapolis.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Pirates 3