Florida @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 30, 2011 ) Florida 1, Atlanta 5

THE STORY: Time is running out for the Atlanta Braves to make a move to acquire an additional hitter or bullpen depth prior to Sunday's trade deadline. Regardless of any possible additions, the Braves are looking to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Florida Marlins on Sunday. The Braves continue to win with exceptional pitching and have allowed Florida to score only one run in the first two games of the series. Atlanta leads the season series 6-2 and has won five straight against the Marlins.

TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FS Florida, FS South (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Ricky Nolasco (7-7, 4.04 ERA) vs. Braves RH Tommy Hanson (11-5, 3.13).

Nolasco broke a two-game losing streak by winning his last start against the Nationals. He allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings against Washington, one start after being ripped for nine runs in 1 1/3 innings by the Padres in one of the worst performances of his career. He has been susceptible against left-handed hitters, who are hitting .302 against him with seven home runs. Nolasco is 4-6 with a 4.98 in 16 career starts against the Braves. He received a no-decision against Atlanta on June 8 when he gave up two runs in 7 1/3 innings, a game the Marlins went on to lose. Hanson got a no-decision in his last start when he pitched the first six innings of the 19-inning marathon against the Pirates. He allowed three runs on seven hits, his first quality start since the All-Star break. Right-handed hitters are batting only .184 with four home runs against Hanson. He is 5-1 with a 2.32 ERA in eight career starts against the Marlins. He beat Florida on June 7 when he threw six shutout innings.

ABOUT THE MARLINS (52-55): Omar Infante has six multi-hit games over the last nine starts and is hitting .293 in July. Emilio Bonifacio, who had his 26-game hitting streak snapped Friday, went 2-for-4 Saturday. John Buck had his six-game hitting streak end Saturday. Anibal Sanchez has gone nine starts without a win, going 0-3 during that stretch. Sanchez has received only 12 runs in support during that time. When Randy Choate allowed a home run Saturday, it was the first he had given up since April 13 and the first by a left-handed hitter this season.

ABOUT THE BRAVES (63-45): Dan Uggla’s 21-game hitting streak is the longest by a Brave since Kelly Johnson hit in 22 straight in 2008. Freddie Freeman, who has hit in 14 straight, has reached base in 36 of 40 games since June 16. Alex Gonzalez has multiple hits in three of the last four games (5-for-15) but hasn’t hit a home run since July 16. Reliever Jonny Venters pitched for the first time in four games as the team is trying to avoid overusing the lefthander. Venters has appeared in a league-high 59 games.

FINAL PITCH: Speaking about the team’s rash of injuries that have sent three players to the disabled list this week, Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez said, “Whether the trade deadline comes or goes, we’ve still got to handle this.”