San Francisco @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2019 ) San Francisco 0, Atlanta 6

The Atlanta Braves clinched their second straight National League East title and third in seven years Friday -- each coming with seven games left in the season. Though they have an outside shot of catching the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL's best record, the Braves likely will ease up on the throttle as they resume a three-game set against the visiting San Francisco Giants on Saturday night.

Ronald Acuna Jr. swatted his second two-run home run in as many nights in Friday's 6-0 win, boosting his season total to 41 and becoming the first player in major league history with at least 40 homers, 125 runs and 35 stolen bases. Brian McCann, who was a rookie the last time Atlanta made it back-to-back titles in 2005, also added a two-run blast in the division-clinching victory for the Braves, who also wrapped up home field for the NL Division Series. "We weren’t supposed to do this. Most people picked us fourth," manager Brian Snitker said. "That’s why you play the games." Mike Yastrzemski extended his hitting streak to five games by collecting three of the four hits by San Francisco, which was officially eliminated from postseason contention with the loss.

TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Johnny Cueto (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Braves LH Max Fried (16-6, 4.25)

Cueto was sidelined for more than 13 months following Tommy John surgery, but he has been outstanding in two starts since returning to the rotation this month. The 33-year-old Dominican limited Pittsburgh to one hit over five scoreless innings in his season debut on Sept. 10 and followed that up with five scoreless innings of three-hit ball in a no-decision against Miami on Sunday. McCann is 5-for-13 with three homers off Cueto, who is 2-4 with a 3.45 ERA in nine starts versus Atlanta.

Fried was 7-0 in his first nine outings following the All-Star break, but he followed one of his best performances with two of his worst and will look to avoid a third straight losing start. The former first-round pick lasted only 2 1/3 innings at Washington on Sunday and was shelled for five runs and six hits, which followed a loss at Philadelphia in which he allowed five runs and four homers in five innings. Fried beat the Giants in San Francisco on May 22 with six innings of two-run ball.

WALK-OFFS

1. Braves 1B Freddie Freeman knocked in his 120th run, the eighth time an Atlanta player has reached that milestone.

2. Giants OF Alex Dickerson is 1-for-25 over his last nine games.

3. Acuna still needs three stolen bases to become the sixth player ever with 40 homers and 40 steals.

PREDICTION: Giants 3, Braves 2