Miami @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 19, 2012 ) Atlanta 3, Miami 0

The latest chapter of Kris Medlen’s rise from little-known reliever to hottest pitcher on the planet unfolds as the Atlanta Braves open their final homestand of the regular season against the Miami Marlins. All eyes will be on Medlen, who has been moved up in Atlanta’s rotation to put him in line to pitch on regular rest in the NL wild card one-game playoff Oct. 5. The Braves lead St. Louis by 5 1/2 games for the top wild card spot. Miami has dropped seven of its past 10 and sits 21 games under .500 as it begins the final road series of a disastrous season.

The Marlins have lost four in a row and were swept by the New York Mets last weekend. Nathan Eovaldi looks to replicate his success from his last start Thursday against the Braves in Miami, in which the right-hander did not allow a run in eight innings, only to see Miami’s bullpen cough up the lead in the ninth. The Braves have quashed any fears of a second straight September stumble, winning 12 of their past 17 games to close in on their second playoff berth in three seasons.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida (Miami), SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Miami RH Nathan Eovaldi (4-12, 4.36 ERA) vs. Atlanta RH Kris Medlen (9-1, 1.51)

Eovaldi has allowed seven earned runs in 17 innings in September, but is 0-2 this month. The right-hander has not won since beating Colorado on Aug. 18, going 0-4 in that stretch. Eovaldi is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two starts against the Braves this season.

Medlen’s numbers since joining Atlanta’s rotation are amazing: 10 starts, an 8-0 record, an 0.76 ERA, nine walks and 72 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings. The Braves have won Medlen’s past 21 starts, one win from the major-league record set by Hall of Famers Whitey Ford and Carl Hubbell.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami OF Justin Ruggiano, hitting .313 with 13 homers and 14 stolen bases, sprained his right shoulder Friday. There is no timetable on his return.

2. Medlen beat Miami in his last start, allowing four hits in eight shutout innings on Thursday.

3. Atlanta 3B Chipper Jones can tie Dale Murphy’s Atlanta record for most career RBIs against one opponent with three RBIs in the series. Murphy drove in 168 runs against San Diego during his Atlanta career (1976-1990).