Atlanta @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 20, 2011 ) Atlanta 4, Florida 0

THE STORY: The Atlanta Braves start struggling veteran Derek Lowe as they continue their quest to capture the National League wild card berth in the rubber game of a three-game series against the host Florida Marlins. The Braves rebounded from Monday’s shocking walk-off loss to shut out the Marlins on Tuesday to improve to 7-1 in Florida this season. The Braves have seen their wild card lead shrink 10½ games on Aug. 25 to 2½ games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), FS Florida

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Derek Lowe (9-15, 4.94 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Javier Vazquez (11-11, 3.92).

Lowe has been a problem for the Braves down the stretch. The veteran has pitched poorly in his last three starts - losing all three, and may be on the verge of losing his place in the postseason rotation. He was thumped by the Mets for six runs in 2 1/3 innings in his last start and has a 6.08 ERA since the All-Star break. He has pitched well against the Marlins this year, going 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in two starts. Vazquez has been the team’s ace since the end of August. He has won four straight games and is coming off a complete-game shutout over the Nationals, the eighth of his career. During that stretch of 29 innings, he has allowed one run and struck out 27. He has thrown 18 straight scoreless innings. In the 12 games since the All-Star break, the veteran has a 2.35 ERA with 81 strikeouts and 15 walks in 80 1/3 innings. This will be his first start against Atlanta this season.

ABOUT THE BRAVES (88-67): Brian McCann has hit .169 (19-for-112) in 31 games since coming off the disabled list. Since hitting a pair of home runs at Wrigley Field on Aug. 26, McCann is 12-for-72 with two homers. Martin Prado, another key offensive ingredient, is 23-for-105 with one homer and seven RBIs over his last 26 games. Dan Uggla, who was pathetic at the plate in April and May, continues on a torrid pace. He has hit .307 (78-for-254) with 23 home runs and 49 RBIs since June 5.

ABOUT THE MARLINS (70-85): Mike Stanton is tied with Miguel Cabrera for the second-most homers in a season by a Marlin with 34. He is the seventh player in major league history 21 years old or younger to have at least 34 homers in a season. He has 56 homers in 242 career games, the same number as Willie Mays and Albert Pujols did to start their careers. Gaby Sanchez is hitting only .206 with one homer and three RBIs over his last 10 games. Omar Infante is 4-for-9 in the series. Brian Sanches has allowed at least one run in three of his last four appearances.

FINAL PITCH: Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez had an open surgical repair on his left shoulder, with a healing period of 4-to-8 months. The Marlins are saying Ramirez should be ready for Opening Day in 2012.