pitched in only two games. 2012 season Medlen began the 2012 major league season as a reliever for the Atlanta Braves, typically pitching middle innings before the Braves set-up man and closer came on for the 8th and 9th innings. He was sent down to the Braves AAA team (the Gwinnett Braves), for the purpose of "stretching him out" to return to the majors as a starter. He started only three games for the Gwinnett Braves, pitching 2.1, 5.0 and 6.0 innings and having a record of two losses and one "no decision". He returned to Atlanta on June 18, 2012, and made 16 appearances in relief, from June 18, 2012 through July 25, 2012. Medlen got his first start of the 2012 season, on July 31, 2012, against the Miami Marlins, allowing 4 hits and 1 earned run and recording the win in a 7–1 game. After an August 5 "no decision" against the Houston Astros (which the Braves won by a 6–1 score), Medlen won five consecutive games in dominating style. On August 11, 2012, in a 9–3 win against the Mets at Citi Field, Medlen pitched 6.1 innings, allowing 5 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 7. Medlen recorded his first complete game shut-out on August 16, 2012, with a 6–0 victory over the San Diego Padres, in which allowed 5 hits and struck out 6, allowing no walks. Perhaps the most important win of Medlen's professional career came on August 22, at Washington, with the Braves ending a four-game losing streak that had included two games against the Division-leading Nationals. Medlen pitched 7 innings, allowing 7 hits and 1 walk, while striking out 7. The win allowed the Braves to remain six games behind the Nationals. With the win over the Nationals, Medlen also broke a franchise record with the Braves winning the 16th consecutive game that Medlen had started. Medlen's fourth win in the month of August 2012 came at San Diego, on August 28, with Medlen pitching 8 shut-out innings. Medlen allowed 5 singles, but picked off two of these runners, and no runner moved beyond first base. He struck out 9 Padres, and allowed no walks. Once again, the win by Medlen allowed the Braves to avoid being swept in a three-game series. With this game, Medlen extended his streak of scoreless innings to 28-1/3. On September 3, 2012, Medlen faced the