NLCS NOTES

ATLANTA – The starting pitching pendulum swings back in the Braves’ favor tonight with Greg Maddux facing Arizona’s Albie Lopez – but not as far one might think.

The biggest reason Diamondback manager Bob Brenly is going with Lopez is because he worked 14 innings and allowed just one run in two starts at Atlanta this year. That’s why Brenly won’t bring back Randy Johnson on short rest tonight.

Maddux will be going on three days’ rest for the first time this season. He’s done it in the past so he doesn’t think it will be a problem.

“It’s not like I throw hard anyway,” said Maddux, who threw 90 pitches in his Game 1 start Tuesday. “I’m not going to lose anything on my fastball. It’s fine. It’s not that big a deal to come back.”

Maddux threw seven-innings of two-run ball in his Game 1 start, but lost to the dominant Johnson.

Lopez threw seven shutout innings in a win over the Braves as a Diamondback and he fired seven innings of one-run ball in a win over the Braves as a Devil Ray.

“Kind of like a Brave-killer or something,” Lopez said.

In Lopez’ NLDS start against the Cardinals, he lost, while allowing four runs in three innings.

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There is still a chance that Kevin Millwood could start Game 5 against Johnson tomorrow. Then Cox could bring back Tom Glavine to face Miguel Batista in Game 6.

Cox ultimately decided to go with Maddux over Millwood because his bullpen is rested.

“We’ve never had a bullpen this strong either,” Cox said before last night’s game. “They’re awfully rested.”

During last night’s game, Cox went to his pen six times, tying a league championship record.