Florida @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 12, 2011 ) Florida 5, Atlanta 4

THE STORY: The reeling Atlanta Braves send a rookie to the mound against the Florida Marlins on Tuesday night in an attempt to stop their slide. Mike Minor, the team's No. 1 draft choice from 2009, has won his last five decisions and will need another strong effort to turn around a slump that has seen the Braves lose four straight and nine of 12 and their lead in the NL wild-card race shrink to 4 ½ games.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FSFL (Florida), SPSO (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins LH Brad Hand (1-6, 3.91 ERA) vs. Braves LH Mike Minor (5-2, 4.32 ERA).

Inconsistency has plagued Hand, who has lost three straight decisions and hasn’t won since July 7. He lost his last start 1-0 to the Mets when he allowed three hits in six innings. The problem has been too many walks – Hand has walked 32 and struck out 28 in 50 2/3 innings. He is 0-2 with a 6.55 ERA in two starts against the Braves.

The light went on for Minor when he was recalled in early August and given a spot in the rotation. In the six starts since, the rookie is 4-0 with 35 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings. He beat the Mets in his last start, fighting back after allowing four runs in the first inning. Minor received no decision in his only career start against the Marlins.

ABOUT THE MARLINS (67-79): Former Brave Omar Infante is 7-for-19 with a double, triple and two home runs in the four games on the road trip. He's hit safely in 20 of his last 24 games. Emilio Bonifacio has hit safely in 13 of his last 14 games and Monday had his eighth multi-hit game during that stretch. Mike Stanton was able to pinch hit on Monday, his first appearance since Sept. 9. Despite an ailing hamstring, Stanton drove home the winning run with a single, his 82nd RBI and seventh against the Braves.

ABOUT THE BRAVES (84-64): Michael Bourn has 10 hits in his last four games, with a double and two triples. Freddie Freeman celebrated his 23rd birthday on Monday with a single to give him six hits over the last four games. After sitting out three games to rest his ailing back, Alex Gonzalez returned to shortstop on Monday and came up with three hits. Brian McCann has continued to struggle since returning from a strained oblique. He's 14-for-88 since being activated.

FINAL PITCH: Atlanta pitcher Tommy Hanson will throw another side session on Wednesday. If he experiences no pain, he will likely be sent to Florida for a simulated game against minor leaguers. Success there would likely mean a start with the Braves before the season ends, which the club has said is a requirement for Hanson to be included in the postseason plans.