Series preview: at Brewers
When (TV): 8:10 p.m. Friday (FSSO), 4:10 p.m. Saturday (FSSO), 2:10 p.m. Sunday (FSSO)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 100.5
Probable starting pitchers:
Friday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (5-3, 3.36 ERA) vs. RH Wily Peralta (4-8, 6.08)
Saturday: Braves RH Tim Hudson (4-6, 4.17) vs. TBA
Sunday: Braves LH Paul Maholm (7-6, 3.57) vs. RH Alfredo Figaro (1-1, 3.88)
About the Braves:
Batting: After hitting a two-run walk-off homer Monday night, Freddie Freeman has walked six times in his past 13 plate appearances against the Mets, entering Thursday night's finale. Freeman ranks second in the National League in batting average with runners in scoring position, hitting .451 (23-for-51), trailing only the Cardinals' Carlos Beltran. His homer Monday night gave him the game-winning hit in each of three consecutive Braves wins.
Pitching: Teheran pitched six scoreless innings in his past outing, Sunday against the Giants. He has allowed three or fewer earned runs in nine of his past 10 outings, while going 6-4 with a 2.42 ERA. He has had eight or more strikeouts in three of his past four starts. This is his first appearance against the Brewers. Hudson is 0-2 in four June starts, despite a 1.57 ERA in that span. He is 1-6 with a 6.07 ERA in eight road starts vs. 3-0 with a 2.22 ERA in seven starts at Turner Field.
Miscellaneous: The Braves have a six-game losing streak at Miller Park, including a three-game sweep Sept. 10-12, when they scored only three runs in three games. Their last win in Milwaukee came April 4, 2011, when Martin Prado and Dan Uggla both homered in the eighth off of Takashi Saito for a 2-1 win.
About the Brewers:
Batting: Shortstop Jean Segura, acquired from the Angels in the Zack Greinke trade, ranks fourth in the NL with a .330 batting average. With Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki (second in the NL at .347) on the disabled list with a broken rib, Segura is trying to become the first Brewers shortstop to start an All-Star game since Robin Yount in 1983. Rickie Weeks was hitting .167 on May 21. Since then, he has hit safely in 16 of 19 games while batting .345 (20-of-58).
Pitching: The Brewers have lost eight of Peralta's past 10 starts since May 2, in which he is 2-7 with an ERA of 6.66. He is 2-5 with a 7.34 ERA in eight starts at Miller Park this season and 2-3 with a 4.93 ERA in seven road starts. He has faced the Braves once and beat them Sept. 10, limiting them to one run in six innings.
Miscellaneous: Ryan Braun is on the DL for the first time in his career with an inflamed nerve in his thumb. The five-time All-Star and 2011 NL MVP was hitting .304 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs. Juan Francisco, who was traded from the Braves June 3, is hitting .158 with one homer in 13 games at first base for the Brewers.
