The week ahead: Following a Monday off-day, the Braves close out a busy inter-divisional portion of the schedule with a three-game series at Miami — the Braves just took two of three from the Marlins at Turner Field — and then break away from the NL East for almost four weeks. Atlanta opens a nine-game homestand next weekend against San Francisco. Off to a mediocre start, the Giants took four of seven games from the Braves last year but lost two of three in their only visit to Turner Field.
Best pitching matchup: Atlanta just saw it. In a rematch from one week ago, the Braves' Alex Wood (2-3, 1.54) takes another crack at Miami ace Jose Fernandez (3-1, 1.99) on Tuesday night in Miami. Their last meeting was only historic. Both starters went eight innings, allowed just seven hits while combining for 28 strikeouts with no walks. The night marked the first game since 1900 to include as many as 28 strikeouts without any bases-on-balls. Wood lost 1-0 for the second consecutive start.
Who's hot: SS Andrelton Simmons was 4-for-11 (.364) with a home run in the last Marlins series. … The Braves are off to a 12-6 start against the NL East. … Giants C Buster Posey has flourished against his home state team (he grew up in Leesburg). Posey has a career .338 average (.563 slugging) against the Braves, driving in 16 runs in 18 career starts. As a rookie in 2010, he hit .375 in the NLDS when the Giants swept Atlanta on their way to winning the World Series. … The Braves' starting rotation entered the weekend with 10 consecutive quality starts.
Who's not: Not the Marlins. They have beaten the Braves only six times in their past 22 meetings. This will be the Braves' first visit of the season to Marlins Park, where they were 8-2 last year and are 14-4 since it opened in 2012. … Former Braves C Jarrod Saltalamacchia is a basket case against his former team, hitting .048 in seven games with 12 strikeouts in 21 at-bats. … Braves 2B Dan Uggla is hitting .199 against his former team.
Notes: As if the Braves need any more starting pitching, they are welcoming back their winningest left-hander from a year ago. Mike Minor, who went 13-6 (3.21) last year, is scheduled for his first start on Friday against San Francisco's Tim Lincecum. Minor opened the year on the disabled list because of should tendinitis. … The Giants appear to be a right team for Minor to face for his debut. In four career starts, he is 2-o against San Francisco with a 2.92 ERA. He has 28 strikeouts and just four walks in 24 2/3 innings against the Giants, who have a scant .205 batting average against him. … The Braves are scheduled to miss former teammate Tim Hudson during their lone visit from the Giants. He is slated to face San Diego on Wednesday before the team travels east. … The Giants struggled on their last trip, losing four of six at San Diego and Colorado. They entered the weekend hitting .227 on the road vs. .243 at home, although their road run production (4.7 runs per game) exceeds their scoring at home (3.6).
