Atlanta @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 23, 2011 ) Atlanta 5, Chi. Cubs 4

THE STORY: Atlanta looks to continue cementing its place in the postseason Wednesday night when it brings its six-game winning streak into the third game of a four-game series against the Cubs in Chicago. The Braves, who lead the National League wild-card race by 9 1/2 games over San Francisco, got a grand slam from Jason Heyward in a 5-4 win Tuesday after blanking the Cubs in the series opener, 3-0, on Monday.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, PTV, Fox Sports (Atlanta), Comcast Sports (Chicago)

PITCHING MATCHUPS: Braves RH Derek Lowe (8-11, 4.73) vs. Cubs RH Randy Wells (4-4, 5.84)

Lowe has been the weak link in an otherwise solid rotation for Atlanta, laboring through the season with a 1.48 WHIP and a .281 opponent batting average. Even in his better outings, he hasn't been razor-sharp — Lowe needed 99 pitches to get through five scoreless innings in his Aug. 19 win over Arizona. He was tagged for five runs and 10 hits in six innings against the Cubs on Aug. 13, falling to 3-2 with a 3.89 ERA in 11 career starts.

Wells has somehow managed to go four consecutive starts without a loss despite allowing 14 runs, including seven home runs, in 25 innings. He has yielded 18 homers in just 89 1/3 innings this year. Wells is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA in five lifetime starts against the Braves, including a victory over Lowe on Aug. 13 (5 IP, 8 H, 2 ER). Atlanta CF Michael Bourn boasts a .462 on-base percentage against Wells (7-for-21, 5 BB).

ABOUT THE BRAVES (78-52): Atlanta's shutout streak came to an end at 30 innings on Tuesday, but the Braves have still held their opponents scoreless in 36 of their last 38 innings while allowing just seven runs in the last six games. The Atlanta pitching staff ranks among the major league leaders in several categories, including saves (1st, 46), strikeouts (1st, 1076), opponent batting average (2nd, .236) and ERA (3rd, 3.31). A balanced offense has gotten at least 10 home runs from eight different players, led by 30 from 2B Dan Uggla.

ABOUT THE CUBS (56-73): Though Chicago has cooled off after an 11-3 start to the month, losing its last three and five of its last seven, there has been no stopping 3B Aramis Ramirez, who may have the hottest bat in the game at the moment. Ramirez went 5-for-5 on Tuesday and is now 27-for-47 (.574) with four home runs and 14 RBIs during his current 12-game hitting streak. He has raised his batting average 29 points to a team-leading .311 while also pacing the Cubs with 24 homers and 83 runs batted in.

FINAL PITCH: The Cubs have walked the most hitters (466) of any team in the major leagues but also drawn fewer (312) than any team.