• When; where: 7:05 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1:35 p.m. Sunday and 12:35 p.m. Monday; PNC Park, Pittsburgh

• TV; radio: SportSouth Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday; 640 AM, 94.9 FM

• Probable starters: Friday night — RH Ian Snell (2-2, 5.09), Pirates vs. LH Tom Glavine (0-1, 4.50 ERA), Braves; Saturday — LH Tom Gorzelanny (2-3, 6.91), Pirates vs. LH Chuck James (2-1, 7.62), Braves; Sunday — LHP Zach Duke (1-2, 4.60), Pirates vs. RH Jair Jurrjens (4-2, 2.84), Braves; Monday — LH Phil Dumatrait (1-1, 3.86), Pirates vs. RH Tim Hudson (5-2, 2.90), Braves.

• Worth noting: The Pirates took two of three from the Braves in their opening series at Turner Field this season, winning both in extra innings. It was the start of the 0-9 record in one-run games for the Braves who lost 12-11 in 12 innings and 4-3 in 10 innings.

• Who's hot: Center fielder Nate McLouth has five home runs in his past four games at PNC Park. He has nine home runs in 135 at bats this season after hitting a career-high 13 in 329 at bats last season. He ranks first among NL center fielders in homers, slugging percentage (.661), on-base percentage (.408) and runs scored (28). ... Left-handed reliever Damaso Marte had retired each of the past 20 batters he had faced heading into Thursday. He has allowed only one of 15 inherited runners to score this season.

• Friday''s pitching matchup: Glavine finally got some run support in his last start and couldn't come up with the pitching to match it. He came an out shy of qualifying for his first win in his return to the Braves, as the Braves beat the Reds 14-7 Sunday, having allowed six runs. He is two starts back from his hamstring injury and showing no ill effects. He is facing the Pirates for the second time this season. He took a no-decision in his first start of the season March 31 at Turner Field. He gave up seven hits but only two runs, one of them earned, in a game the Braves lost 12-11 in 12 innings. Jason Bay (7-for-19), Adam LaRoche (6-for-10) and Freddy Sanchez (6-for-16) have all hit Glavine well. ... Snell was the Pirates opening day starter and owner of a new five-year contract, worth as much as $24 million. He faced the Braves in that opener and took a no-decision in the 12-11 game, allowing four runs in six innings, including a Brian McCann homer. He has allowed no more than four runs in any of his seven starts but won only twice, the last time on April 12 against the Reds. McCann is 7-for-12 off Snell with three homers.

— Carroll Rogers