Atlanta @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 7, 2013 ) Atlanta 3, LA Dodgers 4

A pair of three-game winning streaks will be on the line Tuesday when the Atlanta Braves visit the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first of three games. Behind eight spectacular innings from Ervin Santana, the Braves took a Monday matinee from San Diego 2-0 to claim the final three of a four-game set. The mini-surge has Atlanta sitting a half game behind Washington in the National League East.

The Dodgers went 2-4 out of the All-Star break to fall into second place in the NL West before sweeping three straight at San Francisco to regain the top spot. The trio of Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu helped Los Angeles limit the Giants to a total of four runs in the set. This is the first meeting between the NL heavyweights since the Dodgers knocked out the Braves in the Division Series last fall, with a four-game return series scheduled Aug. 11-14 in Atlanta.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportSouth (Atlanta), SNLA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Aaron Harang (9-6, 3.31 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Josh Beckett (6-5, 2.52)

Harang seeks career win No. 120 and looks to attain the 10-win mark for the seventh time in his 13-year career, including 2012 as a member of the Dodgers. He is 4-0 with a 2.20 ERA over his last six starts, lasting at least six innings in each outing during that span. The 36-year-old is 3-7 with a 3.80 ERA in 18 career starts at Dodger Stadium.

Beckett has surrendered nine earned runs over 13 2/3 innings in three starts this month while serving up four home runs, three coming in a rocky outing at Pittsburgh last Tuesday. He gave up four runs in 3 2/3 frames in that game, his first since returning from a stint on the disabled list with a hip issue. Beckett, who is 1-4 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 home starts, has posted a sterling 2.07 ERA in 17 career outings against Atlanta.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez went 6-for-13 in the sweep of San Francisco and is 10-for-26 in his career versus Harang.

2. Braves C Evan Gattis was 1-for-13 in his first four games off the disabled list last week but is 5-for-6 with a home run in his last two games.

3. Los Angeles LHP J.P. Howell has recorded 12 consecutive scoreless appearances.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Braves 3