Braves at Marlins
The Atlanta Braves are midway through a stretch of 20 games in 20 days, and head to Miami for Friday’s series opener against the Marlins looking to regain their early-season form. Since winning nine of 12 in early April the Braves have struggled, falling for the 10th time in 16 games with Thursday’s 11-2 drubbing by San Diego, and in the past 10 games the team that led the National League in hitting with runners in scoring position a season ago is batting .149 in those situations.
There is an undercurrent to Friday’s contest as Miami starter Jose Urena will make his first appearance against the Braves since hitting Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. on the wrist with a pitch Aug. 15, 2018, sparking a benches-clearing incident and resulting in Urena being suspended. The Marlins saw their four-game losing streak end with Wednesday’s 4-2 home victory over Cleveland as center fielder Rosell Herrera finished with a career-best three RBIs, and is 3-for-9 in his past three games after a 2-for-27 stretch. Atlanta had won three of four before Thursday’s blowout, the bright spot being right fielder Nick Markakis extending his hitting streak to nine games (the veteran is batting .324 in that stretch). The Braves open a 10-game, three-city road trip that also features three games in Los Angeles against the Dodgers and four games in Arizona.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network; FS South (Atlanta), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Kevin Gausman (1-2, 4.80 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Jose Urena (1-4, 5.08)
Gausman looks for similar results from his season debut against the Marlins on April 5, in which he allowed two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in seven shutout innings. The 28-year-old has struggled in his past two starts, giving up five earned runs in back-to-back appearances with 13 total hits allowed in 10 1/3 innings. Gausman struck out a career-best 10 in seven innings April 17 against Arizona, but has struck out 11 while allowing three homers in his past two outings.
Urena has pitched better lately after a rough start to the season, giving up five earned runs in 20 innings across his past three starts after surrendering 14 earned runs in his opening three outings. The 27-year-old took the loss Friday at Philadelphia, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks in seven innings. Urena is 2-6 with a 5.91 ERA in 14 career games (11 starts) against the Braves.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami RHP Sergio Romo is 5-for-5 in save opportunities, allowing only three runs in 9 2/3 innings across his past 10 appearances.
2. Atlanta INF/OF Charlie Culberson went 2-for-4 on Thursday in his second start of the season, and pitched a scoreless ninth inning in mop-up duty.
3. The Marlins hope LF Garrett Cooper, out since being hit with a pitch in the left hand Tuesday against Cleveland, can return to the lineup this weekend.