Milwaukee @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2018 ) Milwaukee 4, Atlanta 2

The Milwaukee Brewers traded for Mike Moustakas hoping his bat and his glove would help them reach the National League playoffs, and that combination is a big reason why they can win a series at the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. The former No. 2 overall pick made two outstanding defensive plays Saturday before delivering the go-ahead double in the eighth inning of a 4-2 victory that evened the series between the two NL wild-card leaders and postseason contenders at one apiece.

Moustakas enters Sunday’s series finale hitting .286 in 14 games with four doubles and eight RBIs since being acquired from Kansas City on July 27. The victory was a big one for Milwaukee, which pulled within two games of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Atlanta, which fell for only the fourth time in the last 13 games, had seen its bullpen stabilize since the trade deadline before giving up three runs in the eighth in losing for just the second time in 51 games when leading after seven innings. Rookie outfielder Ronald Acuna homered in the opening frame, his seventh in 20 games since the All-Star break.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Dish455 (Milwaukee), FS South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (7-7, 3.81 ERA) vs. Braves LH Sean Newcomb (10-5, 3.15)

Anderson has been outstanding for Milwaukee since the middle of June, posting a 2.63 ERA and .222 batting average against in his past nine starts. The 30-year-old gave up four runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings Tuesday against San Diego, snapping a streak of eight consecutive starts with two of fewer runs allowed. Anderson is 2-0 in three career starts against the Braves with a 3.93 ERA, beating Atlanta in 2014 and 2016.

Newcomb continues to establish himself as one of the top young pitchers in the NL, entering Sunday having allowed only three runs in 20 2/3 innings across his last three starts. The 25-year-old, who came one strike away from no-hitting the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 29, gave up one run on five hits with two walks in six innings Tuesday at Washington. Newcomb lost to the Brewers on July 8, giving up five runs with four walks in 3 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. With closer Corey Knebel struggling of late, Milwaukee LHP Josh Hader pitched two perfect innings to get his ninth save, striking out three.

2. Braves 1B Freddie Freeman extended his hitting streak to 13 games Saturday, finishing 1-for-3 with a run scored.

3. Milwaukee LF Ryan Braun, who entered Saturday 1-for-9 against the Braves this season, finished with two hits, a run scored and an RBI.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Brewers 2