Atlanta @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 28, 2012 ) Atlanta 2, San Diego 0

The Atlanta Braves can finish a 10-game road trip with a .500 record if they can beat the San Diego Padres in Wednesday’s finale of the three-game series. The Braves started the trip with four losses in five games so a break-even trip would represent a good final flourish. San Diego had an eight-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday. The Padres are just one of four clubs to have three winning streaks of six or more games this season.

Kris Medlen threw eight shutout innings in Tuesday’s game just 13 days after throwing a complete-game shutdown against the Padres. Atlanta continues to lead the National League wild-card chase by 4 1/2 games over the Pittsburgh Pirates and trails Washington by four games in the NL East. The Padres are 16-10 in August but are still 11 games below .500. San Diego will need to continue its strong play to have a chance at catching the third-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. The Padres are 4 1/2 games behind Arizona.

TV: 6:35 p.m. ET, Sports South (Atlanta), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Tommy Hanson (12-6, 4.40 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Stults (4-2, 2.69)

Hanson has never lost to the Padres, compiling a 4-0 mark and 2.01 ERA in five career outings. He fell to the San Francisco Giants in his last start when he gave up five runs (four earned) and seven innings in 4 1/3 innings. Hanson is 8-3 with a 4.05 ERA in 13 road starts this season.

Stults has won three straight decisions and beat the Braves on August 13 when he gave up one run and five hits in 7 2/3 innings. Stults threw seven innings of three-hit shutout ball while beating the Arizona Diamondbacks in his last outing. Stults is 2-1 with a 3.13 ERA in six career appearances (two starts) against Atlanta.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego’s new ownership has completed its $800 million purchase of the club. Golfing star and San Diego native Phil Mickelson is part of the group.

2. Braves 2B Dan Uggla homered Tuesday – only his fourth in 41 appearances since the All-Star break.

3. Padres 3B Chase Headley, who has 10 homers in August, is 4-for-10 in his career against Hanson.