Marlins at Braves
The National League East-leading Atlanta Braves will try to make history when they host the last-place Miami Marlins in the finale of a three-game series on Thursday night, after allowing just one run total in the first two. The Braves have matched their franchise high with 14 victories against the Marlins in a single season and can beat the record when they meet for the last time in 2019.
Ronald Acuna Jr. and Adeiny Hechavarria each belted two-run homers in Wednesday’s 5-0 triumph as Atlanta remained six games ahead of second-place Washington in the NL East after winning its fourth straight contest and seventh in the last nine. Mike Soroka, who is 2-0 with a 0.68 ERA in four career starts against the Marlins, will take the mound in the finale for the Braves and Miami counters with fellow right-hander Sandy Alcantara in a battle of All-Star hurlers. The Marlins own the worst record in the NL (45-80) after losing five straight games and eight of their last nine despite outhitting Atlanta in each of the first two contests in the series, including 7-3 in Wednesday’s setback. Lewis Brinson, the centerpiece of the trade that sent Christian Yelich to Milwaukee in January of 2018, had a double and a single in the loss for Miami after going just 4-for-39 in his previous 11 games and is batting .172 since being recalled in early August.
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), FS Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (4-11, 4.35 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Soroka (10-2, 2.41)
Alcantara has recorded quality starts in each of his last two outings, but the rookie’s winless streak has still grown to nine contests. The 23-year-old Dominican Republic native gave up two runs on three hits and four walks last Friday in a loss at Colorado after yielding three runs across 7 2/3 frames of a no-decision against Atlanta six days earlier. Ozzie Albies is 3-for-7 with a double versus Alcantara, who owns a 3.86 ERA in two matchups against the Braves in 2019.
Soroka is winless in his last six trips to the mound, but posted quality starts in the past four while allowing seven total runs across 27 2/3 frames. The 22-year-old Canadian permitted three hits over seven scoreless innings at Miami in a no-decision on Aug. 10 and boasts 107 strikeouts to go along with 33 walks across 134 2/3 frames with just eight homers served up. Soroka is 4-2 with a 4.08 ERA in nine games at home as opposed to 6-0 with a 1.32 mark in 13 road contests.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Braves placed C Brian McCann (knee sprain) on the 10-day injured list and recalled C Alex Jackson.
2. Miami C Jorge Alfaro had a single Wednesday and is 17-for-55 with two homers and six RBIs against the Braves in 2019.
3. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman needs one run to become the first Brave to score 100 times and knock in 100 runs in a season since Chipper Jones (2007).