"I'm just doing what I've been working on since Spring Training," Reyes said. "I'm not doing anything different."

Nothing has changed mechanically. He's just getting better results.

Over his past five starts, Reyes is 1-2 with a 2.80 ERA, and has held opponents to a .203 batting average.

The recent hot stretch began in that May 28 game, when Reyes allowed one run on two hits in seven strong innings, the best performance of his young career. He took the loss, though, since the Braves were shut out, 1-0.

Reyes said his success hinges on his ability to throw offspeed pitches for strikes. If he can do that, he's able to get hitters out with a varied arsenal later in the count.

He's been doing just that recently, as evidenced by his growing strikeout totals. He has 29 strikeouts in his past five starts, compared to just 12 walks.

With each strong outing, the 23-year-old left-hander is becoming more confident on the mound.

"It all depends on what kind of stuff I have that day," Reyes said. "Right now, I'm making my pitches and that's what counts."

Reyes will start the series opener on Monday night against Ben Sheets and the Brewers, who enter the three-game set winners of 15 of their last 22.

The Braves didn't face Sheets when they played three games in Milwaukee in May. They won't be so fortunate this time.

Sheets has won four straight and he hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his past six starts.

In 11 career starts against the Braves, Sheets is 8-3 with a 4.80 ERA. He has also thrown two complete games.

Pitching matchup
ATL: LHP Jo-Jo Reyes (3-4, 4.05 ERA)
In his last outing, Reyes allowed two runs -- one earned -- on five hits for the second straight start, but when he left after the seventh inning, the Braves still hadn't broken out of a 2-2 tie. The 23-year-old left-hander, who has made significant strides since the first month of the season, struck out three and walked four. Reyes lost to the Brewers on May 28, despite allowing just one run on two hits in seven innings. He also struck out a career-high nine in that game.

MIL: RHP Ben Sheets (8-1, 2.74 ERA)
Sheets didn't have his best stuff his last time out, but still was able to claim a victory, as his teammates provided enough run support to give the Brewers a 5-4 win. Sheets (8-1) walked four batters, but won his fourth straight decision by limiting the Blue Jays to two runs over six innings of work. Closer Salomon Torres came in to work out of a jam and record the last five outs for the save, giving Sheets his team-high eighth win.

Tidbits
Outfielder Matt Diaz will meet with Braves physician Marvin Royster on Monday to assess his rehabilitation. Diaz said he expects to be given a new brace for his injured left knee that would allow him to begin all baseball-related activities. He said he may be back before the All-Star break, instead of after the break, as was originally thought. He has been on the disabled list since May 28 with a posterior cruciate ligament sprain in his left knee. ... Braves manager Bobby Cox didn't know the status of reliever Rafael Soriano, who still has discomfort in his pitching (right) elbow. Soriano said Saturday that he feels elbow pain even while playing catch.

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Up next
• Tuesday: Braves (Charlie Morton, 1-0, 4.91) vs. Brewers (Dave Bush, 3-7, 5.26), 7 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Braves (Jorge Campillo, 2-2, 2.54) vs. Brewers (TBA), 1 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Off-day