Friday’s game: Braves vs. Cardinals

Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Julio Teheran (10-8, 4.16 ERA) vs. RH Jaime Garcia (10-5, 2.36)

What's new: A.J. Pierzynski had an eight-game hitting streak entering Thursday night, one that started when he came off the bench against the Phillies to replace Christian Bethancourt in the ninth inning and got a walk-off base hit in a 2-1 win. He's hitting .440 (11-for-25) with a double and four RBIs over the streak. He had a pair of multi-hit games the last time he faced his former team, going 4-for-7 July 24 and 25 in St. Louis. Entering Thursday night, the Braves had hit 96 home runs as a team, the fewest in the majors. The last time they had fewer than 100 home runs in a season was 1988 when they had 96. The Cardinals clinched the N.L. Central on Wednesday and will spend the weekend resting some regulars and backing down their pitchers.

- Carroll Rogers Walton