Los Angeles @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 6, Atlanta 2

Chad Billingsley seeks his sixth consecutive victory when the Los Angeles Dodgers conclude a three-game series against the host Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Billingsley’s five straight victories have evened his record at 9-9 following a shaky start. Atlanta had a four-game winning streak snapped Saturday as Dodgers shortstop Hanley Ramirez homered twice and had four RBIs. Ramirez has 27 RBIs in 23 games since Los Angeles acquired him from the Miami Marlins.

The Braves are four games behind the first-place Washington Nationals in the National League East. Martin Prado has driven in 10 runs in his last nine games, including both Atlanta runs in Saturday’s loss. Los Angeles smacked a season-best four homers off Braves starter Ben Sheets and didn’t have any other hits. The Dodgers remain a half-game behind the first-place San Francisco Giants in the NL West. Los Angeles will again be managed by Trey Hillman as Don Mattingly completes a two-game suspension.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, TBS, KCAL (Los Angeles), SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Chad Billingsley (9-9, 3.62 ERA) vs. Braves LH Mike Minor (6-9, 4.93)

Billingsley has allowed only six runs during his five-game winning streak and four of them came in one outing. He tossed eight innings of five-hit shutout ball against the Pittsburgh Pirates in his last start. Billingsley has issued only six walks in 46 2/3 innings over his last seven outings. He is 1-3 with a 3.67 ERA in nine career appearances (seven starts) against Atlanta.

Minor has lost three of his last four decisions. He fell to the San Diego Padres in his last start when he allowed three runs and nine hits in six innings. Minor received a no-decision against the Dodgers on April 24 when he gave up three runs in six innings. He is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA in two career starts against Los Angeles.

WALK-OFFS

1. Ramirez has delivered two or hits in five straight games and has nine multi-hit games in August.

2. Braves 2B Dan Uggla is 1-for-17 with seven strikeouts against Billingsley.

3. Dodgers 3B Luis Cruz homered in Saturday’s contest and is 11-for-24 over his last seven games.