Atlanta @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2012 ) NY Mets 1, Atlanta 6

New York hopes to not wait a month for its next home victory after snapping a nine-game home losing streak Thursday with its first victory at Citi Field since July 7. The secret of New York’s success – and lack thereof – can be traced to the offense. New York has scored 21 runs in its past three games, and seven runs in its past five losses. The Braves look to continue their hot summer streak. Atlanta is 12-3 in its past 15 games and has won eight of its past 10 series.

The Braves have not played at Citi Field since the opening series of the season, which the Mets swept. Atlanta is 5-1 against New York since. Left-hander Paul Maholm starts the opener for the Braves. He lost his first game with Atlanta on Saturday. Highly touted prospect Matt Harvey makes his first home start for the Mets. He allowed five earned runs in his last start after pitching well in his first two big-league outings.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Paul Maholm (9-7, 3.75 ERA) vs. Mets RH Matt Harvey (1-2, 3.86)

Maholm threw two bad pitches in his Atlanta debut, and Houston’s Justin Maxwell hit both of them into the Turner Field stands. Maholm otherwise pitched well, allowing six hits and three runs in seven innings with two walks and eight strikeouts. Maholm has lost just once since June 24, and has a 2.49 ERA in his past 10 starts.

The 23-year-old Harvey struck out 112 in 110 innings at Triple-A Buffalo, and he has continued to get hitters to swing and miss since reaching the majors. Harvey has fanned 23 in 16 1/3 innings with just seven walks. He allowed eight hits and five runs in five innings against the Padres on Sunday.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones continues to produce at age 40. Jones, who is retiring at season’s end, is hitting .366 with five homers, 13 doubles and 22 RBIs in his past 32 games.

2. New York 3B David Wright is hitting .242 in his past 25 games, but has four hits in his past two games. Wright is seventh in the majors in hitting at .327.

3. Maholm has struggled in his career at Citi Field, going 0-2 with an 8.80 ERA in four appearances at the Mets’ ballpark.