Atlanta @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 22, 2011 ) Atlanta 3, Chi. Cubs 0

THE STORY: Atlanta goes for its third consecutive shutout victory and its sixth straight win overall Tuesday night when it plays the second of a three-game series at Chicago against the Cubs. The Braves, who lead the National League wild-card race by 8 1/2 games, got home runs from Freddie Freeman and Dan Uggla while Jair Jurrjens and three relievers held Chicago scoreless in a 3-0 triumph Monday.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Mike Minor (3-2, 4.26) vs. Cubs RH Casey Coleman (2-5, 7.43)

Minor is unbeaten in six spot starts since the end of May, including an August 18 win over San Francisco that saw him pitch six shutout innings (4 H, 1 BB, 9 K) to outduel Tim Lincecum. He wasn't quite as sharp in his previous start, allowing three runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings, but it was enough to earn a home win over the Cubs. Minor is 2-0 with a 4.63 ERA in two career outings against Chicago, but current Cubs hitters are 15-for-44 (.341) against him.

Coleman hasn't been able to offer the Cubs much as an injury fill-in this season. He has pitched just three times (all Chicago losses) since the beginning of June, giving up 10 runs and 17 hits in 10 innings. Wrigley Field hasn't offered a sanctuary, either — Coleman is 0-3 at home with a 12.27 ERA, a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 10:12 and an opponent batting average of .394. This will be his first career outing against Atlanta.

ABOUT THE BRAVES (76-52): Atlanta has allowed just three runs during its current five-game streak, holding opponents scoreless for 26 consecutive innings. The Braves have been buoyed by one of the best bullpen trios in recent history — LHP Eric O'Flaherty (24 holds, 1.25 ERA) and Jonny Venters (6-1, 27 holds, 5 saves, 1.10) have been nearly automatic in setting up for closer Craig Kimbrel, who owns a 1.72 ERA and leads the major leagues with 39 saves.

ABOUT THE CUBS (56-72): Though Chicago was kept off the scoreboard Monday, there was no cooling off 3B Aramis Ramirez, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a 3-for-4 night. Ramirez is 22-for-42 (.524) during the streak with eight multi-hit games, four home runs and 12 RBIs. The Cubs have seen improvement from their pitching staff in August but still rank at or near the bottom of the league in most categories, including ERA (4.55).

FINAL PITCH: The Cubs, who rank eighth in the majors in batting average but just 17th in runs scored, left 15 runners on base in Monday's loss.