Marlins at Braves
It took 15 hits and a rare quiet stretch from the Atlanta Braves' offense for the Miami Marlins to snap a eight-game losing streak against their National League East rival, and they enter Sunday looking to win the road series entering the All-Star break. The Marlins snapped an overall five-game losing streak in Saturday’s 5-4 victory, rallying from an early two-run deficit by holding Atlanta’s high-scoring offense scoreless over the final six innings.
Miami reached double digits in hits for the fourth time in its past seven games, paced by three each from catcher Jorge Alfaro and second baseman Starlin Castro - the later extending his road hitting streak to nine contests as he scored two runs and drove in one. The Braves fell for just the 10th time in their past 33 games since June 1 and have combined for only five runs on 14 hits through the first two games of the series, after averaging 6.7 runs and 9.8 hits since the beginning of last month. Center fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a leadoff homer Saturday, his 13th career leadoff blast and fifth against Miami. Atlanta left fielder Austin Riley homered in the second inning, tying a team record for most homers by a rookie before the All-Star break with 16.
TV: 1:20 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Trevor Richards (3-9, 4.02 ERA) vs. Braves LH Dallas Keuchel (1-2, 4.08)
Richards looks to enter the All-Star break by reversing his recent struggles, after pitching to a 6.53 ERA with a .333 opponents batting average in his past four starts. The 26-year-old allowed three runs on six hits over five innings of a 13-6 loss June 30 against Philadelphia, five days after surrendering six runs on seven hits in five frames against Washington. Richards has pitched well against Atlanta in two starts this season, going 0-1 with a 0.79 ERA and only four hits allowed over 11 1/3 innings.
Keuchel makes his fourth start since signing with Atlanta last month and comes in after giving up two runs on five hits over seven innings of a 2-0 loss Tuesday against Philadelphia. The 31-year-old threw 55 of his 97 pitches for strikes against the Phillies, six days after limiting the Chicago Cubs to three runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings to pick up his first victory with the Braves. Keuchel is 1-1 in two lifetime starts against Miami with a 1.50 ERA and the victory came in his last appearance against the Marlins in 2017.
WALK-OFFS
1. If Atlanta 2B Ozzie Albies homers Sunday, the Braves would become the first team in major league history to have six players hit 15 or more blasts before the All-Star break.
2. Miami 1B/OF Garrett Cooper left Saturday’s game after collecting his second base hit of the day with right leg cramps.
3. Marlins RHP Austin Brice extended his career-best scoreless streak to 10 2/3 innings with a scoreless frame Saturday.