Atlanta @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2011 ) Atlanta 2, Colorado 3

THE STORY: The Colorado Rockies conclude their eight-game homestand Thursday afternoon when they take on the Atlanta Braves in the finale of their four-game set. Atlanta has dropped the last two meetings with the Rockies, including Wednesday's 3-2 decision, after winning the first five of the year.

TV: 3:10 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), Root Sports (Colorado)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Tommy Hanson (10-5, 2.73 ERA) vs. Rockies RH Jhoulys Chacin (8-7, 3.37 ERA).

Hanson is coming off his first loss since May 27. He yielded a season-high five runs in 5 1/3 innings against Washington on Saturday. The 24-year old posted a victory over Colorado on July 4, allowing one run over seven frames. Hanson is 5-2 in nine road starts this season.

Chacin is winless since June 15, going 0-3 in five outings. He managed to avoid a defeat against Milwaukee on Saturday, when he surrendered five runs over 6 1/3 innings. The 23-year old Chacin made his first career start against the Braves in Atlanta on July 5, and suffered a loss by allowing four runs in five frames.

ABOUT THE ROCKIES (47-51): One day after drawing 10 walks--its highest total in a nine-inning game in the last two seasons--Colorado received just three free passes, including one intentional Tuesday. 1B Todd Helton wasted little time extending his hitting streak to nine games as he blasted a two-run homer in the first inning. It was Helton's 11th home run of the year, three more than his 2010 total. Helton needs one double to tie Manny Ramirez (547) for 23rd place on the all-time list and three walks to pull even with Willie Randolph (1,243) for 50th in major league history.

ABOUT THE BRAVES (57-41): RF Jason Heyward returned to the lineup Wednesday after missing two games with a bruised left foot. Heyward went 1-for-3 and scored a run. 2B Dan Uggla's game-tying RBI single in the eighth inning extended his hitting streak to 12 games. That matches his career-best run set from August 7-20 last season. Eric Hinske is two RBIs shy of 500 for his career. RHP Tim Hudson remained winless in four career starts at Coors Field but lowered his ERA from 10.20 to 7.77.

FINAL PITCH: Chacin has held opponents to a .206 batting average this year, the second-lowest figure in the National League. Since the start of the 2010 campaign, foes are hitting just .217 against the righthander, the fifth-lowest average in the majors.