Atlanta @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 29, 2010 ) Florida 6, Atlanta 7
If the Florida Marlins hope to gain any ground on the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, the time is now.
The Marlins look to extend their winning streak tonight when they host the Braves in the opener of a three-game series at Sun Life Stadium.
After losing three games in a row, Florida has won its last two - including a 16-10 triumph over Washington on Wednesday. Wes Helms went 3-for-5 with five RBIs while Donnie Murphy collected two hits and three RBIs.
The Marlins, who have won five of their last seven at home, trail the first-place Braves by 10 games in the NL East and are eight behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the wild card. The time is right for Florida to gain ground as it has won five of its last seven home games while Atlanta has lost three straight on the road and four of five.
Neither team will be sending its originally scheduled pitcher to the mound in this one.
Instead of Derek Lowe, who is out with a right elbow injury, the Braves will go with Kenshin Kawakami.
Kawakami last made an appearance in the majors on July 16, when he was tagged for three runs and five hits in one inning of relief against Milwaukee. The right-hander’s last start for Atlanta came on June 26, allowing one run and two hits over seven frames en route to a 4-3 victory - his only one this season - over Detroit.
The 35-year-old Kawakami owns a 1-4 record and 5.55 ERA in five career meetings with the Marlins, including one relief appearance. He surrendered three runs and seven hits in six innings of a 6-4 loss at Florida on May 25.
Dan Uggla, who has missed three games with a strained groin, is 4-for-9 (.444) with a home run and two RBIs against the Japanese hurler.
Another thing in Florida's favor is Kawakami's lack of success on the road. In eight outings away from home, Kawakami is 0-7 with a 4.86 ERA.
The Marlins had planned on starting Ricky Nolasco, but the right-hander discovered he had a torn medial meniscus in his right knee that will require surgery and was shut down for the remainder of the season.
Taking the hill in Nolasco's place will be Andrew Miller, who was hit hard by the Braves on Saturday. In just his second game of the year, the left-hander was battered for four runs and five hits in four innings of a 12-3 loss.
The 25-year-old made his only start of 2010 on Aug. 22, surrendering one run and three hits in five frames but not figuring in the decision of a 2-1 loss to Houston.
Miller has made six career appearances - including three starts - against the Braves, going 2-0 with a 3.32 ERA.
The Braves saw their five-game winning streak come to an end Thursday with a 4-2 loss to the New York Mets. Brian McCann collected three of Atlanta's seven hits, going 3-for-4 with his 20th home run of the campaign.
The loss reduced the Braves' lead over the Phillies in the NL East to two games.