Braves at Marlins
The Atlanta Braves might be a serious World Series contender if their bullpen was better, but even after a flurry of moves at the trade deadline it is clear their relievers are struggling entering the finale of a four-game series Sunday at the Miami Marlins. Atlanta carried a 6-2 lead into the ninth inning Saturday only to see its bullpen give up six consecutive hits to tie it and send the game to extra innings, when Martin Prado’s sacrifice fly plated the winning run in a 7-6 defeat.
Handed a 3-0 lead entering the eighth inning, the Atlanta bullpen imploded, allowing seven runs on 10 hits with two walks in 2 1/3 innings to give Braves relievers a 6.17 ERA and 1.64 WHIP since July 1, spoiling a two-hit night from Ozzie Albies that gave him an eight-game hitting streak and 15 hits (seven for extra bases) in his past five contests. The Marlins beat the National League East leaders for only the fourth time in 15 meetings this season thanks in part to two hits from outfielder Curtis Granderson – including a pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning. Shortstop Jon Berti, who entered the game as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning, went 2-for-2 with two runs scored to reach base for the sixth consecutive game and record his sixth multi-hit game since returning from the injured list July 31. Right fielder Brian Anderson went 1-for-3 on Saturday and has hits in 15 of his past 18 games while hitting .318 in that span with seven homers, 13 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (3-5, 6.26 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Hector Noesi (0-1, 9.00)
Foltynewicz delivered in his return to the majors following a six-week exile to Triple-A Gwinnett, giving up three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings - and more notably, maintaining control of both his slider and emotions - to beat Minnesota on Tuesday. The 28-year-old pitched to a 6.37 ERA with 16 homers allowed in 11 starts before being optioned to the minors, but in his final three outings for Gwinnett held opponents to a .179 average with two runs allowed in 16 innings. Foltynewicz is 5-2 with a 3.12 ERA in 11 career games against Miami, going 2-1 with a 0.95 ERA and 0.89 WHIP last season.
Noesi gets another start five days after making his first major-league appearance since 2015, giving up five runs on five hits with three walks across five innings in taking the loss against the Mets. The 32-year-old pitched to a 5.32 ERA for four teams from 2011-15, then spent three years pitching for Kia in the Korea Baseball Organization, going 46-20 with a 3.79 ERA in 90 starts. Noesi spent the first four months of 2019 at Triple-A New Orleans and pitched well, going 11-4 with a 3.82 ERA and 133 strikeouts with only 30 walks in 125 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami 3B Starlin Castro is 15-for-33 during his current seven-game hitting streak against Atlanta with nine RBIs.
2. Atlanta LF Adam Duvall finished 0-for-5, and in his past six games has only two hits in his last 27 at-bats.
3. Albies is hitting .500 with two doubles, three homers and seven RBIs during his hitting streak.