Wednesday’s game: vs. Rays

Probable starting pitchers: Braves RH Williams Perez (0-0, 15.43) vs. RH Jake Odorizzi (3-3, 2.36)

What's new: The 23-year-old Perez makes his first major league start, getting a chance in the rotation after Eric Stults lost his past three starts while giving up 14 runs in 18 innings. Perez was the Mississippi Braves pitcher of the year last season after going 7-6 with a 2.91 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) for the Braves' Double-A club. He was dominant to start this year in Triple-A Gwinnett, going 2-0 with a 1.33 ERA in five starts. Nick Markakis will want to speak up in the scouting meeting on Odorizzi. He has faced him the most of any of the four Braves who've seen him before, given all his time in the A.L. East with Baltimore. Markakis has fared well too, going 5-for-11 (.455) with a double, a home run and two RBIs.

-Carroll Rogers