Friday’s game: Braves vs. Pirates

Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Williams Perez (1-0, 2.66 ERA) vs. RH Charlie Morton (2-0, 1.93)

What's new: The Braves run into a hot Pirates team, which has won 11 of its past 13 games including a sweep in San Francisco, where the Braves were just doing well to split a four-game series. The Braves come home to Turner Field with a bullpen in disarray, one which is now last in the majors with a 4.81 ERA after blowing back-to-back multi-run leads in Arizona. The Braves hope Freddie Freeman brings his hot bat home, after the resurgent first baseman hit five home runs in six games on the trip, including two in the loss to Arizona Wednesday. That doubled his season total to 10. Andrelton Simmons went 0-for-9 in the last two games of the trip to put an end to his 10-game hitting streak. Juan Uribe will make his debut as a Brave at Turner Field, after hitting .304 (7-for-23) with a double and two home runs on the road following his trade from the Dodgers.

- Carroll Rogers Walton