Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Atlanta Braves – September 10/12
Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Atlanta Braves
When: September 10 – September 12
Location: Truist Park, Atlanta, GA
After a back-and-forth season-series, the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves meet for one final time this weekend in Atlanta for what will be three very-important games for the NL East leading Braves.
The Marlins travel to Atlanta fresh-off taking two-of-three at home from the Mets. After dropping Game 1 of the series, Miami was able to win the next two, mainly due to some late-inning big hits from Bryan De La Cruz and Jazz Chisholm.
Despite being out of postseason contention with a 59-81 record on the season, Miami comes to Atlanta playing good baseball as winners of four of their last six. The Marlins have however struggled on the road this season with a 21-47 record away from loanDepot Park.
Atlanta also comes into the weekend with a series win after taking two-of-three over the Nationals, partly due to some big late-inning hits of their own.
The Braves sit atop the NL East at 74-65 overall with a 3.5 game lead over the second place Phillies. Displaying the only positive run differential in the division, Atlanta comes into this series as one of the top run-producing teams in the National League.
Atlanta Braves Players to Watch
3B Austin Riley
Displaying a team-leading 4.8 WAR, Riley entered play Thursday slashing .301/.373/.531 with 29 home runs and 87 RBI’s on the season. A potential NL MVP candidate, Riley has posted a .781 OPS across 16 games against the Marlins this season.
1B Freddie Freeman
The 2020 NL MVP leads the NL with 103 runs scored, as well as an impressive .886 OPS. Freeman has destroyed Marlins pitching this season slashing .429/.526/.762 with five home runs and 14 RBI’s across 16 games.
2B Ozzie Albies
Acting as Atlanta’s leadoff hitter over the past one-to-two months, Albies is enjoying a career-year. Slashing .260/.316/.497 for the season, Albies has hit 27 home runs, 93 RBI’s, and 17 stolen bases, all of which are career-highs.
SS Dansby Swanson
Swanson is also enjoying a career-year with 26 home runs and 80 RBI’s, both of which are career-highs. The Braves shortstop has posted an .861 OPS through 16 games so far against Miami this season.
RP Luke Jackson
Arguably Atlanta’s top overall reliever at the moment is Jackson. Enjoying a career-low 2.05 ERA this season, the right-hander sports a 1.23 ERA since August 1.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Game 1: Friday, September 10 at 7:20 pm ET
Probable Starters: LHP Trevor Rogers vs RHP Ian Anderson
Rogers (MIA): 7-6, 2.52 ERA, 1.155 WHIP, 42 BB, 132 K
Anderson (ATL): 6-5, 3.61 ERA, 1.290 WHIP, 45 BB, 98 K
Game 2: Saturday, September 11 at 7:20 pm ET
Probable Starters: RHP Elieser Hernandez vs RHP Charlie Morton
Hernandez (MIA): 1-1, 3.90 ERA, 1.082 WHIP, 6 BB, 33 K
Morton (ATL): 13-5, 3.47 ERA, 1.063 WHIP, 51 BB, 185 K
Game 3: Sunday, September 12 at 1:20 pm ET
Probable Starters: RHP Edward Cabrera vs LHP Max Fried
Cabrera (MIA): 0-1, 7.11 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 7 BB, 5 K – Marlins No. 2 Prospect
Fried (ATL): 11-7, 3.42 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 39 BB, 136 K
Series Prediction
Similar to the Mets previously, every game from here on is a must-win for the Braves. Currently holding a slim lead in the NL East, Atlanta needs’ wins with an opportunity against the out of contention Marlins at home a prime opportunity to get those.
These two teams have played some exciting series’ this season at both Truist Park and loanDepot Park – Could we see the best of all this weekend?
These should be three exciting games to watch over the weekend between two division opponents that have played some entertaining games so far this season. The Marlins could win one or possibly two here, but there is no-denying that this series is the Braves to lose.
Prediction: Braves 3-0