Boston @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2018 ) Boston 8, Atlanta 2

Boston Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski felt comfortable not making any big moves at the waiver deadline Friday like his rivals, because he and the front office had already done the work. The Red Sox will continue chasing the franchise's best regular season when they visit the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday in the second of a three-game series.

While the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians both made deals for former MVPs last week, Boston knew it had stars coming back to the pitching staff in Chris Sale, Eduardo Rodriguez and David Price and a former All-Star just rounding into form in the lineup in second baseman Ian Kinsler. Rodriguez pitched the Red Sox to a win over the weekend and Kinsler showed off his clutch hitting ability with three RBIs in Monday's 8-2 triumph. The Braves are leading the National League East but missed a chance to add to that advantage with Monday's setback, and sit four games clear of the slumping Philadelphia Phillies. Boston will hand the ball to former Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello on Tuesday while Atlanta counters with lefty Sean Newcomb.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), FS Southeast (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox RH Rick Porcello (15-7, 4.27 ERA) vs. Braves RH Sean Newcomb (11-7, 3.85)

Porcello is winless in his last three turns and was knocked around for a combined 12 runs and 20 hits across 17 innings in those outings. The former Cy Young Award winner's last victory came in a National League park at Philadelphia, where he struck out 10 and yielded one run over seven innings while helping himself with a double. Porcello is 20-8 with a 4.13 ERA in 39 career interleague games, including 2-1 in three starts against Atlanta.

Newcomb allowed five or more runs in three of his last four turns and suffered a loss to Tampa Bay in his last outing on Wednesday. The University of Hartford product was ripped for six runs on eight hits and a pair of walks across four innings by the Rays while notching seven strikeouts. Newcomb started at Boston on May 26 and lasted three innings while allowing three runs on six hits and four walks.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Red Sox are expected to recall veteran 2B Brandon Phillips from Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday.

2. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman is 5-for-34 over his last eight games, dropping his batting average from .317 to .306.

3. Boston 3B Rafael Devers (hamstring) is expected to be activated off the 10-day DL on Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Braves 3, Red Sox 1