Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Atlanta Braves – August 16/18

Atlanta Braves Players to Watch

3B Austin Riley

The 24-year-old third baseman is tied for the team lead with 25 HR’s, while also ranking second among Braves positional players with a 3.3 WAR on the season. Entering play on Sunday, Riley was slashing .300/.321/.480 across his last 12 games, 10 of which he collected at-least one hit.

1B Freddie Freeman

The 2020 NL MVP has regained his MVP form in recent weeks after a rough start to the season, partly due to a phenomenal month of July where Freeman slashed .375/.470/.594 with six HR’s and 15 RBI’s. Freeman did struggle this past week, but did homer in Sunday’s win to pair with a 2-for-3 showing Saturday.

2B Ozzie Albies

Albies leads the Braves in RBI’s, while also on-pace to post a new career-high in HR’s. Now acting as Atlanta’s primary leadoff hitter, Albies entered play Sunday on a four-game HR streak which included seven hits and eight RBI’s during that span.

SS Dansby Swanson

Arguably the hottest hitter in Atlanta’s lineup at the moment is Swanson. Entering play on Sunday, Swanson was slashing .383/.412/.638 across his last 12 games with three HR’s and 11 RBI’s, and also added another HR on Sunday, his fourth in the past three games.

RP Tyler Matzek

Perhaps the most dominant reliever in Atlanta’s bullpen recently has been Matzek, a hard-throwing left-hander primarily used in high-leverage situations. Matzek has not allowed an earned run in his last 16 outings that includes four walks and 18 strikeouts.

Miami Marlins Players to Watch

SS Miguel Rojas

Rojas leads the Marlins with a 3.0 WAR, and collected four hits in Miami’s three-game series sweep against the Cubs over the weekend. Across his last 13 games, the veteran shortstop is slashing .356/.408/.556 with 11 runs scored.

1B Jesus Aguilar

The team-leader in almost every major statistical category, Aguilar’s 84 RBI’s lead the National League for the 2021 campaign. Aguilar has homered three times already this month, while also drawing an impressive seven walks compared to five strikeouts.

OF Lewis Brinson

The phenomenal recent run continued on Sunday for Brinson as he collected yet another multi-hit game. The 27-year-old outfielder now has seven multi-hit games so far this month with four HR’s and 17 RBI’s.

2B Jazz Chisholm 

The Marlins young star second baseman returned to the lineup over the weekend homering in Sunday’s win over Chicago. Chisholm has posted a .742 OPS during his second season in the big leagues including 12 HR’s and 11 stolen bases.

RP Anthony Bender

Miami’s bullpen leader in WAR, Bender is a player who has had success against Atlanta so far this season. Across 6.2 innings pitched against the Braves this season, Bender has allowed three earned runs on five hits with one walk and 12 strikeouts.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Monday, August 16 at 7:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: LHP Braxton Garrett vs RHP Touki Toussaint

Garrett (MIA): 1-1, 4.65 ERA, 1.710 WHIP, 14 BB, 30 K

Toussaint (ATL): 1-2, 4.28 ERA, 1.171 WHIP, 9 BB, 28 K

Game 2: Tuesday, August 17 at 7:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: RHP Sandy Alcantara vs RHP Huascar Ynoa

Alcantara (MIA): 7-10, 3.52 ERA, 1.158 WHIP, 43 BB, 128 K

Ynoa (ATL): 4-2, 3.02 ERA, 1.052 WHIP, 11 BB, 50 K – Making return from IL (first start since May 16)

Game 3: Wednesday, August 18 at 7:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: LHP Jesus Luzardo vs RHP Charlie Morton

Luzardo (MIA): 4-5, 7.52 ERA, 1.709 WHIP, 27 BB, 53 K

Morton (ATL): 11-4, 3.49 ERA, 1.112 WHIP, 46 BB, 155 K

Series Prediction

Two of the hottest teams in baseball at the moment will meet for three games to start the week in a matchup that has been extremely entertaining so far this season.

While Miami has played well against Atlanta this season, these are two teams that appear to be heading in different directions for the remainder of the season. The new-look Braves have revamped their lineup with multiple additions including former Marlins outfielder Adam Duvall and others, and appear set to compete for the 2021 NL East crown.

The Marlins on the other hand are showcasing some of their younger players for the remainder of the season headlined by Bryan De La Cruz and Alex Jackson, who will be facing his former team for the first time.

Atlanta is playing no-doubt their best baseball of the year at the moment, and will look to continue that here. While both teams are coming off series sweeps, this Braves team is clicking on all cylinders at the moment, and haven’t showed any signs of slowing down anytime soon. This is a different Braves team than what the Marlins saw earlier this season, and may be too-much for Miami at the moment.

Prediction: Braves 2-1