Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Atlanta Braves – September 10/12

MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 16: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #2 of the Miami Marlins rounds the bases on a solo home run off of Touki Toussaint of the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at loanDepot park on August 16, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - AUGUST 16: Jazz Chisholm Jr. #2 of the Miami Marlins rounds the bases on a solo home run off of Touki Toussaint of the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at loanDepot park on August 16, 2021 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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Miami Marlins third baseman Isan Diaz (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Miami Marlins third baseman Isan Diaz (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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 third baseman Austin Riley (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

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.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Rogers (Photo by Bryan Cereijo/Getty Images)
Miami Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Rogers (Photo by Bryan Cereijo/Getty Images) /

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?

Next. Bryan De La Cruz is Miami's Deadline Winner. dark

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

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