The San Francisco Giants have won just two of their last six games and have dropped three games behind the Dodgers for the top spot in the NL West. A win won't come easy tonight either against an Atlanta Braves team who is looking to make it three wins on the bounce for the first time since the All Star break.

Here are my keys to the game:

1. Pitching - The Giants hand the ball to Jake Peavy (2-4, 4.12 ERA) who is 2-2 with a 2.84 ERA in five starts since returning from a back injury. He's struggled from home though compiling a 5.12 ERA in three starts while serving up four homers and giving up eight walks over 16 2/3 innings of work. The Braves will counter with Shelby Miller (5-8, 2.44 ERA) who's 0-6 in his last eight starts despite posting a respectable 3.17 ERA. He held the Giants to one run on five hits in 7 1/3 innings earlier in the season.

2. Situational - The Giants are 1-4 in their last five games as a road favorite and they've lost five of their last six away from home with Peavy on the mound. Atlanta has won nine of its last 12 against a right-handed starter.

3. X-Factor - Nick Markakis was 3-for-6 in last night's 9-8 win in the series opener and he's 6-for-18 in previous meetings with Peavy.

Selection: This is a play on the Atlanta Braves +1.5 (8*)