New York @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 13, 2012 ) NY Mets 5, Atlanta 7

R.A. Dickey started the season as a 37-year-old knuckleballer with a 41-50 career record. Now with 12 wins and a 2.40 ERA through the first half of the season, Dickey hopes to continue his storybook season when he starts his second half Saturday against Atlanta. Dickey returns to the site of his only loss of the season, an April 18 outing during which the Braves hit three homers and scored eight runs in 4 1/3 innings.

Atlanta has won five in a row, but likely will make a roster move in advance of today’s game. Having already lost shortstop Andrelton Simmons to a fractured pinkie finger, the Braves saw backup shortstop Jack Wilson dislocated his pinkie in Friday’s 7-5 victory. The Braves are four games behind Washington in the NL East. Friday’s loss dropped the Mets 5 1/2 games behind Washington.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX.

PITCHING MATCHUP: New York RH R.A. Dickey (12-1, 2.40 ERA) vs. Atlanta RH Tommy Hanson (10-5, 3.71).

Dickey has gone 10-0 since falling to the Braves in his third start of the season, but is looking to pitch better than he did in his final start before the break. Dickey gave up 11 hits and five runs July 5 against Philadelphia but escaped with a no-decision as the Mets pulled out a 6-5 victory.

Hanson is 5-1 in his past seven starts since June 3, striking out 36 while walking just 12. He beat the Phillies in his final first-half start July 7, striking out six while allowing six hits and three runs in seven innings. Hanson has pitched seven innings in each of his first two July starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta C Brian McCann missed Friday’s game following the birth of his first child, a son. McCann is expected to play Saturday.

2. Atlanta’s Chipper Jones hit his 461st career homer Friday, his 49th lifetime against the Mets. The Braves are 7-0 this season when Jones homers.

3. New York LHP Josh Edgin, a 30th round pick in the 2010 draft, made his major-league debut Friday. Edgin gave up two hits and two runs in 1 1/3 innings but struck out three.