Braves at Marlins
Ronald Acuna Jr. is one of the most recognizable faces in the majors at 21 years old, and the Atlanta Braves outfielder carries a seven-game hitting streak - and a measure of revenge redeemed - into Saturday’s middle contest of a three-game series at the Miami Marlins. Acuna homered off Jose Urena, who drilled the National League Rookie of the Year with a pitch last August, en route to a 3-for-5 performance with three RBIs as the Braves captured Friday’s series opener.
Acuna is batting .400 during his hitting streak with two homers, four runs scored and seven RBIs, his second-inning run-scoring single making him the eighth player in franchise history to drive in 100 or more runs before his 22nd birthday. While Atlanta rebounded from two consecutive losses at Pittsburgh to score in each of the first five innings and finish with 14 hits during Friday's 7-1 win, the Marlins - who had won 13 of their past 19 games and five of their past six home contests entering the series - had just five hits. Two of those came from second baseman Starlin Castro, who recorded a second-inning double for his 1,500th career hit. Miami had averaged 5.7 runs per game in their past 19 contests but were held to one run for the second consecutive game.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (3-4, 3.28 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Trevor Richards (3-5, 3.53)
Teheran has shined since the beginning of May, pitching to a 0.83 ERA in his last six starts while holding opponents to a .142/.274/.195 slash line with 16 hits allowed in 32 2/3 innings. The 28-year-old is 1-0 with five no-decisions in that stretch, holding Detroit to four hits with six strikeouts over five scoreless innings Sunday. Teheran began his string of great starts May 5 at Miami, giving up two hits in six scoreless innings of a no-decision.
Richards has pitched very well during the Marlins' hot streak, giving up only two runs on 11 hits with 19 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings while going 2-0 in his past three starts. The 26-year-old struck out eight while holding San Diego to one hit in five scoreless innings to win his last outing Sunday, lowing his WHIP on the season to 1.24 through 12 starts. Richards, who is limiting opposing batters to a .216 average, held the Braves to two hits in 4 1/3 scoreless innings in a no-decision May 4.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marlins RF Harold Ramirez is 0-for-8 over the last two contests but is hitting .314 while reaching base in 18 of 22 games since making his major-league debut May 11.
2. Atlanta 2B Ozzie Albies went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI in the series opener, giving him 23 RBIs in 35 career games against the Marlins.
3. Miami placed LHP Caleb Smith on the injured list with left hip inflammation and recalled RHP Tyler Kinley from Triple-A New Orleans.