Atlanta has lost the first two games of this series. This may be a high number for Chris Sale; however, he’s had eight strikeouts, or more, in four straight. He now faces a Pirates team that has the 4th highest strikeouts on the season thus far. Pittsburgh is also strikeouts out the 2nd most in the league over the last 15 days.

Albies owns struggling Martin Perez taking him deep twice in four career ABs. Perez gives up a ton of flyballs and has already surrendered 9 HRs this season. Albies is having a down season, but he still crushes lefties (.325 avg, .500 SLG, 825 OPS). No better way to break out of a funk than with a tater, and we see it happen all the time. Albies has been far more productive in day games this season, which can't hurt us here I figure

Enough of this fooling around for the Braves, who have looked like they would rather be eating a Primanti's sandwich and washing it down with a Yuengling rather than playing baseball the past two days at PNC Park while being humbled by the Pirates. We would expect that halts on Sunday because of the pitching edge for Atlanta, as Chris Sale has hardly been touched all of May (1 ER in 25 IP; 0.36 ERA), while Pittsburgh holds its breath with Martin Perez, who has been struggling this month (8.24 ERA in May). The pierogis will taste a lot better on the way to the airport for the Braves if they salvage this series finale. Play Braves on Run Line

The Braves have lost two straight games to the Pirates and I like their chances to avoid being swept, especially with Chris Sale on the mound who has been elite thus far and having a Cy Young caliber season. Sale will be opposed by lefty Martin Perez who has struggled and sports an ERA of over 8.0 in the month of May. I expect the Braves to pounce on Perez early and take care of business.

Martin Perez is having a down season by his standards and the lefty has routinely failed to go 6+ IP. Perez has been held under in 7/10 starts on the season, including four consecutive games. He will face a Braves lineup that is top 10 in OPS against opposing southpaws and I like their chances of pouncing on Perez as they're looking to avoid being swept by the Pirates. The Braves also have solid career numbers against Perez.