The Cincinnati Reds have proven their mettle by toasting the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves this week. They go for a sweep on Thursday in hopes to finally reach first in their own division.

Cincinnati trails the St. Louis Cardinals by just one game.

The Reds have plenty momentum already, but feel even better with Homer Bailey on the mound at the Great American Ballpark. Cincinnati has won 19 of Bailey’s last 26 home starts.

He beat the Braves his last time out, giving up just one run and six hits over 6 2/3 innings on May 14. He only faced Atlanta one other time, but has a combined ERA of 2.13 in those two starts.

The Braves haven’t been as good on the road during starter Randall Delgado’s starts. The righty is just 1-2 in those situations with a 5.40 ERA. He was the losing pitcher against Bailey on May 14, despite giving up just one unearned run.

Cincinnati hasn’t swept the Braves since 1980, but set themselves up nicely after snacking on Atlanta’s pitching in the first three games. The Reds have hit eight homers in the series already, including the game-winner by Todd Frazier. They’ve hit 11 overall during their current five-game win streak that has them five games over .500 for the first time this season.

“Right now, we’re rolling,” starter Bronson Arroyo told the Associated Press. “But it’s a roller coaster, you know.”

The Braves, in the meantime, have struggled with third baseman Chipper Jones out of the lineup. Despite Cincinnati’s effort to use special bases commemorating his final season, Jones has only pinch-hit once in the series, still recovering from a deep bruise in his leg. The Braves are 19-5 with him in the lineup, and 7-13 without him.

Cincinnati is favored by 1 1/2 runs, according to Bovada’s Braves vs. Reds Betting Lines.