GAME: Montreal Expos (26-26) at Atlanta Braves (28-25).

TIME: Thursday, 7:35 p.m. EDT.

Jose Vidro and Vladimir Guerrero look to help the Montreal Expos gain a split of their four game series with the Atlanta Braves as the teams play the finale at Turner Stadium.

Vidro hit a three-run double off John Smoltz with two outs in the ninth inning Wednesday, rallying Montreal to a 4-3 win. Guerrero hit his 14th homer in the win, the Expos' fourth in six games. Guerrero got his 557th career RBI, passing Tim Raines for third on the club's all-time list.

Vidro and Guerrero have been as impressive as any duo in the NL this season, each hitting over .320, and combining for 70 runs scored and 86 RBIs.

"Right now, we're playing like the way we were the first three weeks," Vidro said. "We're able to come back against the top pitchers. When we get guys on base, we're getting key hits. We're also putting those guys on base throughout the lineup."

Despite being tied with the New York Mets for the NL East lead, the Braves are trying to overcome injuries to key personnel

Chipper Jones is day-to-day after fouling a ball off his ankle, and Gary Sheffield's hamstring has him limping and unavailable.

"It's the weirdest thing I've ever seen," said Sheffield, who is limited to pinch-hitting duty.

Injuries have been an overriding theme of the Braves' season.

Greg Maddux went on the disabled list for the first time in his career with a sore back. Sheffield has struggled throughout the season, mostly because of wrist and hamstring ailments. B.J. Surhoff is out for the year after tearing up a knee. Mark DeRosa needed surgery for a damaged ankle and could be out two months.

Marcus Giles will probably miss two or three weeks, though an MRI exam Wednesday didn't reveal anything more serious than a sprain.

Sheffield was held out again Wednesday, missing his sixth straight start. The Braves are left with only 11 healthy players to handle the everyday positions.

STANDINGS: Expos - 3rd place, 1½ GB, NL East. Braves - 1st place (tied), NL East.

EXPOS PROBABLE STARTER: Carl Pavano (3-5, 5.80 ERA). Pavano has not pitched well of late. He lasted just three innings in his last outing, a 13-9 loss to the Phillies on Saturday, when he allowed five runs and five hits, but did not figure in the decision. He has no career decisions against the Braves, but has given up nine runs in 11 1-3 innings against them.

BRAVES PROBABLE STARTER: Jason Marquis (3-3, 5.00 ERA). The right-hander had a personal two-game winning streak snapped in his last start, a 6-4 loss to the Reds on Sunday. He allowed five runs and eight hits over 5 1-3 innings. Marquis is 1-1 with a 2.21 ERA in his career against the Expos.

OFFENSIVE LEADERS: Expos - Vidro, .336 avg. and 37 runs; Guerrero, 14 HRs, 45 RBIs and 10 SBs. Braves - Chipper Jones, .321 avg.; Andruw Jones, 12 HRs, 34 RBIs and 32 runs; Rafael Furcal, 12 SBs.

SEASON SERIES: Braves, 3-2.

STREAKS AND NOTES: Expos - Montreal is playing the fourth game of a stretch in which 13 of 16 games are on the road. ... At 12-9, the Expos have the best winning percentage against NL East opponents. Braves - 2B Giles requested an MRI exam after injuring his right ankle in Tuesday night's game trying to avoid a tag at first base. The procedure confirmed the team's original diagnosis: a serious sprain that will keep him on the bench for two or three weeks. ... OF Chipper Jones was walking better Wednesday, one day after fouling a ball off his right calf. He could return for Friday's game at Cincinnati.

ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Expos - 9-16 on the road. Braves - 15-13 at home.

INJURIES: Expos - LHP Scott Downs (elbow), 60-day DL; RHP Troy Mattes (shoulder), out for the season. Braves - OF Corey Aldridge (shoulder), out for the season; INF Mark DeRosa (ankle), 15-day DL; RHP Derrick Lewis (elbow), 15-day DL; OF George Lombard (calf), 60-day DL; OF Dave Martinez (knee), out for the season; LHP Horacio Ramirez (elbow), 15-day DL; OF Sheffield (hamstring), day-to-day; OF Surhoff (knee), out for the season.