Pittsburgh @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 12, 2019 ) Pittsburgh 7, Atlanta 8

Austin Riley struggled after a brilliant start to his major-league career, riding a 2-for-22 streak with nine strikeouts, but the Atlanta Braves rookie left fielder broke out at the right time Wednesday. The Braves enter Thursday's home series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates aiming for a four-game sweep after Riley went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, belting a game-tying homer in the ninth and scoring the game-winning run on Ozzie Albies' walkoff double in the 11th inning of an 8-7 victory.

The victory moved Atlanta one game ahead of Philadelphia in the National League East, as Riley finished a double shy of the cycle and the Braves pounded out 15 hits to improve to 21-9 in their past 30 games. Pittsburgh first baseman Josh Bell, who slugged 12 homers in May en route to winning NL Player of the Month honors, put the Pirates ahead with his first longball of June in the ninth before Riley's 10th homer of the season tied the contest at 7-7. Pirates shortstop Kevin Newman, who tied a career high with three hits Tuesday, went 3-for-5 Wednesday with two RBIs to raise his average to .321 on the season. In six meetings this season, the Braves have outscored Pittsburgh 45-37 with four wins.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Southeast (Atlanta)'

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (4-6, 4.40 ERA) vs. Braves RH Julio Teheran (4-4, 3.03)

Musgrove started the series opener Monday but lasted just 18 pitches before being ejected after he hit Josh Donaldson, which sparked a benches-clearing altercation. The 26-year-old had contained the Braves in his previous start June 5, holding Atlanta to one run on three hits through eight innings before giving up a pair of solo homers in the ninth. Musgrove had struggled in his final two outings of May, allowing 11 runs on 21 hits over 11 innings in losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee.

Teheran quietly has built a case for All-Star game consideration, going 2-0 with a 0.70 ERA and .135 opponents batting average in his past seven starts. The 28-year-old held Miami to two hits with one walk and five strikeouts across six scoreless innings Saturday. Teheran, who is third in the NL in hits allowed per nine innings (6.5) and 10th in ERA, is 4-1 with a 2.38 ERA in 11 career appearances (10 starts) against Pittsburgh.

WALK OFFS

1. Newman extended his hitting streak to five games, going 10-for-22 in that span with five runs scored.

2. Riley's game-tying homer was the 11th home run for Atlanta through three games in the series.

3. Pittsburgh CF Starling Marte is hitting .420 with four homers and 11 RBIs while collecting hits in nine of his past 11 contests.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Pirates 2