Opponent: Atlanta Braves (48-56).

Site: PNC Park.

Times: 7:05 p.m. today and tomorrow, 12:35 p.m. Thursday.

TV, radio: Today and tomorrow on FSN Pittsburgh, all games on KDKA-AM (1020) and Pirates Radio Network.

Probable starting matchups: RHP Ian Snell (9-6, 4.63) vs. RHP John Smoltz (8-5, 3.55), LHP Paul Maholm (4-9, 4.96) vs. LHP Horacio Ramirez (5-4, 4.52), RHP Victor Santos (4-7, 5.28) vs. RHP Tim Hudson (8-9, 5.25).

Season series: First meeting. The Pirates won last year, 4-3.

Three things to know about the Braves: 1. Although swept in three by the New York Mets over the weekend, they are 18-13 since a 3-20 slide May 29-June 22. 2. Hottest hitter since the break has been 1B Adam LaRoche with a .344 average, seven home runs and 18 RBIs in 14 games. But the offense -- which produced 50 home runs in July -- will be without 3B Chipper Jones, placed on the disabled list Saturday for of a strained oblique. 3. That offense has been needed to compensate for a pitching staff with a 4.79 ERA, slightly higher than the Pirates' 4.77. As could be expected, Smoltz is an exception. He is 4-0 in his past five starts while striking out 39 in 36 innings.

The Pirates' key to success: Keep the starters rolling. They have worked six-plus innings in 11 of the past 14 games. Over the season, when they go less than six, the team's record is 10-40.

The intangible: Can the Pirates continue their 10-6 post-break roll with four new faces?

On deck: A 15-game stretch of Central Division opponents starts with three in Wrigley Field.