Marlins at Braves
The Atlanta Braves seem to always find a way against the Miami Marlins, even when they aren’t able to unleash their normally prolific offense, and enter Saturday’s middle contest of a three-game home series looking to beat their National League East rival for the 10th time in 11 meetings this season. Atlanta mustered just five hits Friday, but squeezed out a 1-0 victory on Brian McCann’s walkoff single in the ninth inning to extend the Braves division lead to 6 1/2 games.
McCann, who hit .230 in 160 games with Houston in two seasons hampered by injuries, continues enjoying a renaissance in his hometown, going 2-for-4 Friday to raise his average to .269 with a .796 OPS. The Marlins have lost eight games in a row against Atlanta after splitting the first two meetings this season, scoring just 19 runs in 10 games against the Braves this season. Miami infielder Neil Walker, making his sixth appearance at third base this season, snapped a 3-for-27 skid with two hits and a walk Friday. Catcher Jorge Alfaro went 2-for-4 and is hitting 5-for-13 with two doubles in his past four games, but the Marlins dropped to 0-4 on their current six-game road trip.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins LH Caleb Smith (3-4, 3.41 ERA) vs. Braves LH Max Fried (9-3, 4.04)
Left hip inflammation has sidelined Smith since early June, potentially costing the 27-year-old an All-Star berth after he allowed two runs or fewer in nine of his first 12 starts while holding opponents to a .198 average. His last start came June 6 at Milwaukee, during which he gave up four runs (his second-highest total of the season) and a season-high three homers in five innings of a 5-1 defeat. Smith, who has struck out eight or more hitters seven times this season, allowed three runs on four hits with seven strikeouts over six innings of a no-decision April 7 at Atlanta.
Fried seems to have corrected himself after a rough stretch, giving up seven runs on 18 hits over 17 innings across his past three starts after pitching to a 7.52 ERA and surrendering four homers in 20 1/3 innings during his previous four outings. The 25-year-old is 2-0 in his past three starts, getting a no-decision Sunday after limiting the New York Mets to three runs on eight hits with one walk and six strikeouts over five innings. Fried defeated the Marlins in Miami on June 9, giving up three runs on six hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over six innings of a 7-6 victory.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta SS Dansby Swanson did not play due Friday due to a sore quadriceps, and likely will not play until Sunday.
2. Friday’s loss dropped Miami to 22-23 since May 17 and the Marlins were 10-31 entering that date.
3. Braves 1B Freddie Freeman doubled leading off the ninth inning, and in 153 career games against Miami is hitting .298 with 27 homers and 84 RBIs.