Atlanta @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2018 ) Atlanta 3, Arizona 5

The Arizona Diamondbacks sit in third place in the National League West and also face an uphill climb for a wild-card spot, but their starting rotation is pitching at an elite level as they host the Atlanta Braves on Saturday for the third contest of a four-game series. Patrick Corbin drew the series even at one apiece with a stellar effort in Friday’s 5-3 victory, and in its past 19 home games Arizona starters are 9-4 with a 2.60 ERA and 143 strikeouts.

First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, who was hitting .198 on May 22, is batting .350 in 91 games since with 28 homers, 56 walks and 69 RBIs, after going 2-for-2 with three walks Friday and homering for the second consecutive game. Arizona comes into Saturday 1 ½ games behind Colorado in the NL West race and is 9-6 in its past 15 home games. The Braves' advantage in the NL East dropped to 2 ½ games after their loss and Philadelphia’s victory over the New York Mets. Third baseman Johan Camargo homered for the second time in two games in the series and is batting .322 with eight homers and 14 doubles since the All-Star break after collecting three hits Friday.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), FS Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (9-7, 4.05 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Clay Buchholz (7-2, 2.05)

Teheran finally has found the consistency he lacked earlier this season, and the veteran has helped stabilize Atlanta’s rotation by going 2-0 with a 3.12 ERA in his past seven starts. The 27-year-old has surrendered two runs or fewer four times in his past five outings, giving up one run on four hits in seven innings of a no-decision Sunday against Pittsburgh. Teheran beat Arizona on July 15, firing 6 1/3 shutout innings with four runs allowed.

Buchholz has been outstanding since the beginning of August, posting a 1.32 ERA with 32 strikeouts and eight walks in 41 innings across six starts. The 34-year-old, who is 5-1 in his past eight starts, gave out one run on four hits in five innings in a no-decision Sunday against the Dodgers, five days after shutting out San Francisco over seven innings. Buchholz is 1-1 with a 6.06 ERA in three career starts against Atlanta and faces the Braves for the first time since 2016.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta RF Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to five games by going 2-for-3 Friday and is batting .526 during his streak.

2. Arizona leads the majors in runs scored in the first inning, logging 116 runs in the opening frame of games this season.

3. After posting a .431 win percentage (174-230) on the road from 2013-17, the Braves are 40-30 (.571) on the road in 2018.

PREDICTION: Braves 7, Diamondbacks 2