Braves at Marlins
Ronald Acuna Jr. continues to establish himself as one of the biggest stars in the majors entering Saturday’s contest at the Miami Marlins - an opponent the Atlanta Braves' 21-year-old outfield has dominated through the first two seasons of his big-league career. Acuna went 3-for-5 with two homers and four RBIs in Friday’s 8-4 victory, lifting his average to .339 while increasing his totals to 14 homers, 32 RBIs and 28 runs scored in 32 career games against the Marlins.
Acuna is doing damage against other teams besides Miami, hitting .383 with seven homers and 15 RBIs during his 10-game hitting streak, while second baseman Ozzie Albies continues to stay hot as his is 17-for-34 with 11 runs scored during his seven-game hitting streak with three four-hit games in his past four contests. The Braves are 11-3 against the Marlins this season while outscoring Miami 63-40, improving to 7-1 at Marlins Park in 2019 as Atlanta extended its National League East lead over Washington to 6 1/2 games. Miami fell for the seventh time in its past eight games despite third baseman Starlin Castro homering for the second consecutive game and collecting four hits, as he is 9-for-17 during his four-game hitting streak. Castro recorded his first four-hit game of the season as Miami finished with nine hits after pounding out 15 hits in the series opener.
TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Soroka (10-2, 2.45 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (4-10, 4.50)
Soroka gave up four runs twice in a three-start span to begin July, but he has settled into his early-season dominant form by giving up five runs in 18 2/3 innings across his last three outings. The 22-year-old surrendered three runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts in seven innings Monday at Minnesota after allowing one run in each of his prior two starts. Soroka, who enters the weekend third in the NL in ERA and 10th in WHIP (1.11), has allowed one earned run on six hits in 15 innings with a 0.67 WHIP in two starts against the Marlins this season.
Alcantara is mired in a rough seven-start stretch during which he is 0-4 with a 6.81 ERA with 10 homers allowed in 38 1/3 innings, and Miami had lost six of those outings. The 23-year-old gave up two runs on three hits over five innings in the nightcap of a doubleheader Monday at the New York Mets, walking three and striking out four in a no-decision. Alcantara, who has surrendered six or more runs in three of his past seven outings, walked five against the Braves on April 6 in Atlanta but gave up just two runs on four hits in four innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Marlins placed RHP Tayron Guerrero (torn nail on right middle finger) on the injured list and recalled RHP Tyler Kinley from Triple-A New Orleans.
2. Braves RHP Mark Melancon gave up one hit but struck out two Friday. In 3 1/3 innings since being acquired from San Francisco, he has allowed no runs and two hits.
3. Miami 2B Isan Diaz, who homered in his major-league debut Monday, singled in four at-bats Friday and is 2-for-19 through his first five games.