Los Angeles @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 25, 2012 ) Atlanta 4, LA Dodgers 2

There was plenty of buzz about Chipper Jones’ two homers in Atlanta’s victory over San Diego on Thursday. But as the Braves employ a six-man pitching rotation for the next two weeks, Kris Medlen is quickly becoming a storyline. The converted reliever fired a complete-game shutout Thursday, improving to 3-0 since moving to the rotation. Los Angeles dropped the series finale at Pittsburgh Thursday but has won nine of its past 13 games.

The Dodgers are 5-2 on their 10-game East Coast road trip and lead San Francisco by a half-game in the NL West. Los Angeles is 12-6 on the road since the All-Star break, the second-best mark in the majors. Lefty Chris Capuano takes the ball for Los Angeles in the series opener. The Braves bring Tommy Hanson off the disabled list to pitch the series opener. Hanson, who has not pitched since July 30 with lower back problems, benefited from strong run support to win three of his six July starts despite a 6.21 ERA.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), Peachtree TV (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Chris Capuano (11-8, 3.11 ERA) vs. Braves RH Tommy Hanson (12-5, 4.29)

Capuano went 9-3 in the first three months of 2012, but suffered through a miserable July (1-4, 5.14 ERA). He has rebounded in two August starts, going 1-1 with a 1.20 ERA and an opponents’ batting average of .216. The southpaw dominated Miami in his last start on Sunday, allowing just two hits in eight innings with 10 strikeouts.

After going 4-0 with a 3.13 ERA in June, Hanson struggled with his command throughout July. The Braves went 5-1 in his six July starts, averaging eight runs in Hanson’s final five starts. Hanson is 3-0 with two no-decisions in his past five starts, beating the Marlins in his last start July 30 by allowing six hits but one earned run in five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta has won 15 of its past 20 games, sitting at a season-high 20 games above .500 and just four games behind NL East leader Washington.

2. The Dodgers have received plenty of production from two big guns acquired at the trade deadline. SS Hanley Ramirez and CF Shane Victorino are hitting a combined .309 with 29 RBIs since donning the Dodger blue.

3. Medlen has a 1.01 ERA with four walks and 22 strikeouts in 26 2/3 innings as a starter.