The set-up: The San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves meet in the final contest of a three-game series just past noon at Turner Field on Thursday. Both teams have spent the season trying to rebuild their farm systems and develop prospects but so far this week, the Braves have dominated the Padres with a 7-3 Tuesday win and an 8-1 victory on Wednesday. The Padres have dropped into last place in the NL West with losses in six of their last eight games and while the 50-83 Atlanta Braves also reside in last place in the NL East (28 games behind the Nats), Minnesota's 13-game losing streak has allowed them to move one game ahead of the 49-84 Twins for MLB's worst record.

The pitching matchup:Jarred Cosart (0-1, 4.23 ERA) gets the nod for San Diego and Mike Foltynewicz (7-5, 4.30 ERA) for Atlanta. Both pitchers are expected to be a big part of their respective teams' starting rotation for the foreseeable future. This marks Cosart's sixth start with the Padres since he was acquired from the Miami Marlins back on July 29. Cosart seems to have found a home with the Padres, having allowed one ER or less in four of his previous five starts. Foltynewicz was acquired by Atlanta before the start of the 2015 season from Houston and takes the mound this afternoon having not lost since August 2.

The pick: Cosart is 3-0 with a 2.63 ERA in four career starts vs. the Braves (teams are 3-1) but the Padres are in a funk, losing both games of this current series to fall to 25-43 on the road this season (note: Padres have allowed 38 runs, or 6.3 per, in their six losses over an eight-game stretch). Meanwhile, the Braves have moved ahead of the Twins for MLB's worst record and would love to keep it that way. Atlanta is an 8* play.