Atlanta @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 17, 2015 ) Atlanta 3, San Diego 5

The San Diego Padres attempt to clinch their third consecutive series win when they host the Atlanta Braves for the middle contest of their three-game set Tuesday. San Diego, which took two of three from Cincinnati at home before doing the same in Colorado over the weekend, opened the series against Atlanta with a 5-3 triumph Monday.

Will Venable recorded two RBIs while Matt Kemp and Yonder Alonso belted solo homers for the Padres, who have scored at least five runs in each of their last four victories. Cameron Maybin was the hitting star for the Braves as he returned to San Diego for the first time since being traded on the eve of Opening Day. The 28-year-old went 2-for-4 with his career-high 10th home run and two runs scored as Atlanta suffered its fifth loss in seven games and third in a row on the road. In fact, the Braves have dropped 16 of their last 18 contests away from home as their road record sank to 21-41.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), FSN San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Matt Wisler (5-2, 4.74 ERA) vs. Padres RH James Shields (8-5, 3.89)

Wisler looks to halt a three-start winless drought as he faces the team that traded him in April for the first time. The 22-year-old rookie from Ohio settled for a no-decision at Tampa Bay on Wednesday after allowing two runs and seven hits in five innings. Wisler has not been victorious since July 26, when he gave up two runs over seven frames at St. Louis.

Shields has gone five starts without a victory as he suffered the loss against Cincinnati on Wednesday after surrendering five runs on six hits and four walks in 6 1/3 innings. The 33-year-old Californian has won only once in his last 13 outings, defeating Colorado on July 17 by holding the Rockies to one run despite yielding seven hits and four walks over five frames. Shields has yet to defeat Atlanta, going 0-2 with a 5.71 ERA in three career starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Kemp has registered three homers and 10 RBIs during his 10-game hitting streak.

2. Maybin has recorded multiple hits — including at least one for extra bases — in five straight contests, joining Hank Aaron (1971) and Kelly Johnson (2008) as the only Braves to have accomplished the feat since 1966.

3. San Diego LF Justin Upton has hit safely in nine of his last 10 games.

PREDICTION: Braves 7, Padres 3