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Medlen is candidate to start wild card game

All Kris Medlen does is win.

The Atlanta right-hander pitched eight shutout innings Wednesday night, and the Braves defeated the Marlins 3-0 for their 21st straight win in a game started by Medlen.

Medlen, who already set the franchise mark for longest team winning streak in games started by a pitcher, rocketed ahead of Roger Clemens, who won 20 straight with the Yankees in 2001.

It is the longest mark in the majors since the Yankees won 22 straight starts by Whitey Ford in the 1950 and 1953 seasons.

Since joining the rotation on July 31, Atlanta could not ask much more from Medlen, who has put himself in consideration to start in the wild card play-in game.

Should the National League East standings hold and the Braves make the playoffs as a wild card, Atlanta's options for the October 5 game will likely come down to Medlen and veteran Tim Hudson.

While Hudson has a boatload of playoff experience, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez can't overlook Medlen, who has simply been the best starter in the majors since August.

The 26-year-old has allowed just seven runs, six earned, while walking a Greg Maddux-like nine and striking out 72 in 70 2/3 innings.

Medlen has gone at least six innings in each of his last eight starts that were not limited by a pitch count and boasts the best ERA by a starter (0.76) over that span. No other starter has an ERA under 2.

The Braves have used those Medlen starts to put some distance between themselves and the rest of the wild card pack and, barring another historic, collapse are bound for the postseason.

And if it comes down to one game to extend Chipper Jones' last postseason, why not Medlen? When he starts, all the Braves do is win.