Atlanta @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 10, 2012 ) Atlanta 4, NY Mets 0

The author of the biggest moment of New York’s season returns from the disabled list. Johan Santana, who threw the first no-hitter in Mets' history back on June 1, has been out since July 21 with a sprained right ankle. He returns to try and help the struggling Mets shake a home slide that has seen New York lose 10 of its past 11 at Citi Field. Atlanta won the series opener Friday behind Paul Maholm’s complete-game shutout, the latest in a series of strong pitching performance for the Braves.

Atlanta is 23-8 since July 4. In those 31 games, the Braves have a 2.90 staff ERA and are allowing an paltry 2.5 walks per contest. Kris Medlen, who has allowed just two earned runs in two starts since moving from the bullpen, starts for the Braves. Atlanta is 3-1 on its six-game road trip and is a season-best 18 games above .500. The Mets have dropped four of their past five.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Peachtree TV (Atlanta), SNY (New York).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Kris Medlen (2-1, 2.37 ERA) vs. Mets LH Johan Santana (6-7, 3.98).

Medlen made 14 starts in 2010 before arm troubles scuttled most of his 2011 season. After 38 relief appearances, Medlen has given Atlanta two solid outings in his return to the rotation. He gave up one earned run on four hits in beating Miami on July 31, and received a no-decision after allowing one earned run on five hits with six strikeouts against Houston on Sunday.

In eight starts since throwing his no-hitter, Santana is 3-5 with a 6.54 ERA. The Mets hope higher velocity on his fastball in a minor-league rehab start Sunday is a sign the time on the disabled list helped Santana, who missed all of 2011 with a shoulder injury. In his final three starts before going on the DL, Santana allowed 19 earned runs and 28 hits in 12 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Medlen is 7-2 with a 4.07 ERA in 20 career starts.

2. New York CF Andres Torres went 0-for-4 Friday, but is hitting .320 since the All-Star break.

3. Atlanta expects to have3B Chipper Jones (back) and C Brian McCann (shoulder) back in the lineup. Both were given the night off Friday.