Marlins at Braves
The Atlanta Braves finally won a series against the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, but the focus for the National League East leaders is to continue their strong play into Tuesday’s opener of a three-game home series against the Miami Marlins. The Braves have won three of their past four series and began the week leading Washington by 5 1/2 games in the division, but the one series they did not win was a four-game split against the Marlins, who have lost six of their past seven.
The Braves are 10-7 in August despite missing several key players to injuries, but have benefited from surprising performances of role players like shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria (4-for-9 against the Dodgers), left fielder Adam Duvall (game-winning homer Saturday) and outfielder Rafael Ortega (grand slam Sunday). Most encouraging is the work done by the Braves bullpen additions acquired at the trade deadline, as Chris Martin, Shane Greene and Mark Melancon combined to give up one hit with eight strikeouts and no walks in six scoreless innings against Los Angeles. Miami right fielder Brian Anderson has been warming up, going 2-for-5 in Sunday’s 7-6 loss at Colorado to give him hits in 20 of his past 25 games and a .323 batting average with 19 RBIs in that span. First baseman Garrett Cooper extended his hitting streak to nine games with two hits Sunday for the Marlins and is batting .342 with an .890 OPS in that span.
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), FS Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Elieser Hernandez (2-5, 5.40 ERA) vs. Braves LH Dallas Keuchel (3-5, 4.39)
Hernandez hopes to replicate his best start of the season on Aug. 8 against Atlanta in Miami, in which he gave up just two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts over six shutout innings. The 24-year-old struggled in his latest start Wednesday against the Dodgers, surrendering six runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts across six innings of a 9-1 defeat, raising his ERA to 5.68 with six homers allowed in 19 innings across his past four starts. Hernandez, who is 2-4 with a 4.73 ERA in nine starts this season, has pitched to a 7.20 ERA with a 1.60 WHIP in six games (four starts) on the road.
Keuchel made his worst start since joining Atlanta against the Marlins on Aug. 8, permitting eight runs on 10 hits with three homers allowed in 3 2/3 innings of a 9-2 defeat. But the 31-year-old rebounded with a stellar outing Wednesday against the New York Mets, striking out seven with just two walks and five hits allowed across six scoreless innings. Keuchel, who beat the Marlins in Atlanta with a season-high 7 1/3 innings of two-run, five-hit pitching on July 7, is 1-1 in five home starts with a 2.43 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 30 strikeouts against eight walks.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami OF Harold Ramirez collected three hits Sunday, and in his past nine games (dating to the start of last week’s series with Atlanta) is hitting .310 with two doubles and four RBIs.
2. Atlanta OF Ronald Acuna Jr. is expected to play Tuesday after being pulled from Sunday’s game for not running out a ball he hit off the wall in the third inning.
3. The Braves have dominated the season series with Miami despite last week’s split, winning 12 of 16 meetings and outscoring the Marlins 74-51.