MILWAUKEE BREWERS
At Turner Field (Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday)
The skinny: The Brewers are tied with San Francisco for the best record in the NL and second-best in the majors. They are fourth in pitching the NL and seventh in batting.
Series history: The Braves own a 67-46 record against the Brewers, the sixth-best against any major-league team, including some AL teams they have met in fewer than 25.
Last 10 games (through Wednesday): 5-5
State of the union: The Brewers grabbed the division lead early and had a five-game lead on the Cardinals entering the weekend. They've maintained it throughout the loss of Ryan Braun to the disabled list. He has now returned. What began as a surprise is now being looked upon as the possible new world order in the NL Central.
Three things: 1) Brewers relief ace Francisco Rodriguez didn't give up his first run of the season till May 10 against the Yankees and has a 1.64 ERA and 16 saves; 2) Wily Peralta, the scheduled starter on Monday, has an ERA of 2.05, fourth-best in the NL; 3) The guy Atlantans love to hate, Carlos Gomez, has nine home runs this season, including one against the Braves, and all have been with the bases empty. But he is only a career .225 hitter against Atlanta. He does have three home runs in his past nine games against the Braves, including the show-stopper last year when Brian McCann met the showboat 20 feet from home plate after he smack-talked his way around the bases.
COLORADO ROCKIES
At Turner Field (Friday-Saturday-Sunday)
The skinny: Best pitching staff vs. best hitting lineup. The Rockies have the fourth-best record in the NL but more impressively they have an astounding .296 club batting average with three of the top eight hitters in the league and that doesn't include Nolan Arenado, who had a club-record 28-game hitting streak earlier this season. The Rockies, however, lost five of six going into the weekend.
Series history: The Braves own a 110-61 advantage, their best record against any major-league team they have played 25 or more times.
Last 10 games (through Thursday): 4-6
State of the union: The Rockies remain the best offense in baseball. They almost routinely score eight or more runs per game. Their run differential entering the weekend (plus 50) was the second-best in baseball behind only Oakland. But the latest little skid, caused by strikeouts and nicks to starters, has given cause for alarm.
Three things: 1) The Rockies are managed by former Braves shortstop Walt Weiss; 2) Outfielder Charlie Blackmon, of Georgia Tech, Suwanee and North Gwinnett High, is currently in baseball's top 20 in batting average, home runs, RBIs, stolen bases, slugging percentage, OPS and WAR; 3) Charlie Culberson of Calhoun High is a part-time player who was recalled when Michael Cuddyer went on the disabled list.
