Atlanta @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 15, 2012 ) Milwaukee 4, Atlanta 7

Milwaukee sat 12 games under .500 in mid-August, but the Brewers have won 17 of 24 since to pull onto the fringe of the NL wild-card chase. While Atlanta sits 5 1/2 games ahead of St. Louis for the top wild-card spot, Milwaukee suddenly is six behind the Cardinals for the second spot. The Braves appear to be heating up offensively after sweeping the Mets, and have won seven of their past eight. Milwaukee has scored five runs or more 14 times in their past 24 games and continues to pace the NL in homers.

The Brewers look to stay hot with Wily Peralta, the second-ranked prospect in Milwaukee’s minor-league system, making his second start. Peralta won his first start Wednesday at Miami after going 7-11 at Triple-A Nashville. Atlanta counters with Mike Minor, who held the Rockies hitless for six innings in his last start Wednesday.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), Fox Sports Wisconsin (Milwaukee).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Atlanta LH Mike Minor (8-10, 4.58 ERA) vs. Milwaukee RH Wily Peralta (1-0, 5.14)

Minor kept the Rockies off balance through seven innings of one-hit ball Wednesday, allowing only a Jordan Pacheco leadoff single in the seventh. After carrying an ERA above 6.00 for most of the first half, Minor has posted a 2.58 ERA in his past 11 starts. His record would be markedly better had the Braves scored more than four runs total in his past four losses.

Peralta induced a double play to escape a dicey first inning in Miami, then delivered a solid performance. He retired eight Marlins in a row at one point and allowed three runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts in six innings. Peralta pitched one inning for the Brewers in relief April 22 at Colorado, allowing one run on three hits in his major-league debut.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta ranks 29th in the majors in average with runners in scoring position (.232).

2. Milwaukee is 8-16 against the NL East this season. The Braves swept a three-game series from the Brewers April 13-15.

3. Atlanta is expected to get injured SS Andrelton Simmons off the disabled list for the series opener. Simmons has been out since July 8 with a broken right pinkie finger.