Braves at Marlins
The Miami Marlins endured a miserable week and have been pounded by the Atlanta Braves all season, but they enter the second contest of their four-game set at home on Friday having snapped their six-game losing streak while exacting some revenge against the National League East leaders. The Marlins routed Atlanta 9-2 in the series opener for just their third victory in 13 meetings this season as Brian Anderson recorded his first career multi-homer performance while driving in three runs.
Starlin Castro recorded a homer and three RBIs while Anderson finished 3-for-4 to give him 29 extra-base hits since June 15 – including 13 homers – as Miami pounded out 15 hits while registering its highest run total since plating 11 on July 29 against Arizona. The Braves were lethargic one night after completing a series victory against American League Central-leading Minnesota, recording just five hits while starter Dallas Keuchel was knocked out in the fourth inning. Josh Donaldson, who doubled in the seventh inning, is batting .342 during his 11-game hitting streak. Ozzie Albies has gone 9-for-15 with two triples, two homers, four RBIs and six runs after notching a triple on Thursday.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (6-7, 3.46 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Caleb Smith (7-5, 3.35)
Teheran has been pitching well since the beginning of May, allowing fewer than three earned runs in 14 of his last 17 starts while posting a 2.66 ERA as the Braves have won 12 of those games. The 28-year-old gave up three runs and three hits in five frames against Cincinnati on Sunday but issued a career high-tying six walks in a contest the Braves lost in extra innings. Teheran is 1-0 in three starts against the Marlins this season, registering 15 strikeouts over 18 scoreless innings, and 8-6 with a 3.72 ERA in 23 career turns versus the club.
Smith missed a month with left hip inflammation but has continued his strong season since returning in early July, limiting opponents to a .194 batting average while going 4-1 with a 3.25 ERA in six starts. The 28-year-old suffered his first loss in that span Sunday at Tampa Bay despite allowing only one earned run over five innings. Smith, who is 5-1 with a 2.66 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in eight home starts, has surrendered six earned runs and nine hits while recording 13 strikeouts over 12 frames in two starts against Atlanta this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami SS Jon Berti went 3-for-5 with two RBIs on Thursday, giving him hits in seven of his last eight games.
2. Braves CF Ronald Acuna Jr. extended his hitting streak to nine games with two hits in the series opener, including his 30th homer, and is batting .357 with five blasts during the run.
3. Marlins 1B-3B Martin Prado is one home run shy of 100 for his career.