Atlanta Braves (7-3) at Toronto Blue Jays (5-6), 1:07 p.m. (ET)
(SportsNetwork.com) - R.A. Dickey hasn't performed well in his career against the Atlanta Braves. The knuckleball specialist gets an opportunity to face Braves Saturday afternoon when the Toronto Blue Jays try to bounce back from a loss in the opener of this three-game series.
Dickey is 2-6 with a 5.48 ERA in 14 games (11 starts) lifetime when facing the Braves.
The 40-year-old right-hander walked five batters in a 2-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. He gave up two runs on three hits to go along with six strikeouts over six innings.
Alex Wood, who is 16 years Dickey's junior, piled up seven strikeouts in a no- decision versus the Mets on Sunday. The lefty went 6 2/3 innings and gave up three runs on eight hits.
Wood faced the Blue Jays one time in relief and it came in his first major league appearance when he completed Atlanta's 11-3 win on May 30, 2013 at Turner Field. He tossed one scoreless inning.
On Friday, Jonny Gomes and Freddie Freeman hit eighth- inning home runs to lead the Braves to an 8-7 win.
Atlanta collected 12 hits, including four from Nick Markakis, who reached base five times and scored three runs. Andrelton Simmons drove in two runs on a double and scored twice himself.
"Those guys are going to swing the bats, and we were just trying to match them," said Markakis.
Julio Teheran was bounced after allowing a career-high four home runs in five innings. He finished with five runs allowed on seven hits and two walks. Cody Martin (1-0) picked up his first big league win with a scoreless inning of relief.
Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson each hit their first two home runs of the season for the Blue Jays, and Devon Travis also went deep to lead off the game.
Drew Hutchison was charged with five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings with six strikeouts. Brett Cecil (0-1) allowed both Atlanta home runs after entering the game in a 5-5 tie.
"We have to go out and execute pitches," Hutchison said. "Obviously we need to do a better job than what we're doing right now."
The Braves have won 11 of their last 14 games versus the Blue Jays.