After the gut-wrenching way they ended the 2011 season, the Atlanta Braves will wake up on Wednesday feeling great after Freddie Freeman clinched their spot in the 2012 playoffs with a two-run walk-off HR against the Miami Marlins.

However, while they're undoubtedly already thinking about the one-game wild card playoff round, they still need to play out the rest of the regular season.

That continues on Wednesday, when Atlanta sends Paul Maholm to the mound to face off against Josh Johnson.

Maholm, who has been somewhat inconsistent since coming over from the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline, will be pitching for his spot in the playoff rotation.

He went 6⅔ innings and gave up only two earned runs while earning a no-decision in his last start, also against the Marlins, but that was after giving up six earned runs in only 4⅓ innings of work Sept. 12 against Milwaukee.

Johnson, one of the most talented pitchers in MLB, has had an up-and-down 2012, with an 8-13 record and a 3.84 ERA.