Atlanta @ Milwaukee preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2012 ) Atlanta 0, Milwaukee 5

The Milwaukee Brewers are not ready to quit the National League playoff race. As unlikely as it seemed when the club was 54-66 on Aug. 19, the Brewers have climbed back to .500 and are within four games of the St. Louis Cardinals for the second wild card spot. The Atlanta Braves are comfortably leading the wild card race but have dropped back-to-back games following a five-game winning streak.

Atlanta scored more than three runs only once during its latest winning streak and the lack of offense is finally catching up with the team. Tuesday’s 5-0 setback marked the sixth time in 11 games this month that the Braves have been held to one or zero runs. Milwaukee has had much less trouble scoring runs and has won 17 of its last 22 games to pull back to .500 for the first time since Apr. 24. Rickie Weeks and Aramis Ramirez each homered on Tuesday to help clinch the three-game series for the Brewers, who have not lost a series since Aug. 13-15 at Colorado.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, SPSO (Atlanta), FSWI (Milwaukee)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Paul Maholm (12-9, 3.67 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Yovani Gallardo (14-8, 3.76)

Maholm bounced back from a terrible start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sept. 2 by shutting down New York last week. The left-hander surrendered five hits and walked three while striking out six in 5 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win. Maholm is 3-3 with a 3.48 ERA since joining Atlanta but has not had much success against Milwaukee in his career. He is 3-10 with a 4.87 ERA in 21 career starts against the Brewers, including a pair of losses earlier this season.

Gallardo has not earned a decision in two straight starts after winning six straight. The offense bailed him out of a weak effort on Sept. 2 against Pittsburgh but the Mexican right-hander bounced back with six solid innings at St. Louis last Friday, allowing two runs and striking out six. Gallardo is 3-1 with a 1.91 ERA in six career starts against the Braves. Jason Heyward, Brian McCann and Martin Prado are a combined 5-for-34 with seven strikeouts against Gallardo.

WALK-OFFS

1. Brewers RF/1B Corey Hart (foot) has missed the last two games but is being fitted for a special insole and hopes to return to the lineup soon.

2. Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones is 3-for-18 with one RBI over the last six games.

3. Milwaukee has won eight straight and is 16-2 over its last 18 games at Miller Park.