Atlanta @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 9, 2013 ) Atlanta 3, Miami 2

It would be hard to envision a better first 10 days of the season for the Atlanta Braves, who aim for their second consecutive sweep when they visit the struggling Miami Marlins on Wednesday in the finale of their three-game series. The Braves have won five straight and seven of their first eight games, own the best record in the majors and are already six games ahead of last-place Miami in the National League East. Atlanta has dominated the Marlins in recent years, beating them 39 times in the past 56 meetings.

Miami does have this going for it in the series finale: The Marlins’ starting pitcher has the team’s only victory of 2013. Alex Sanabia beat the Mets on Friday, giving first-year manager Mike Redmond his only victory as skipper. Veteran third baseman Placido Polanco has been one bright spot for Miami. He had two of the Marlins’ four hits Tuesday and is hitting .310.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida (Atlanta), Fox Sports Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Mike Minor (1-0, 1.23 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Alex Sanabia (1-0, 0.00).

Minor pitched very well after the All-Star Break last season, and the 25-year-old left-hander started this season with a victory Friday against Chicago. Minor held the Cubs to five hits and one earned run in 7 1/3 innings, striking out seven. The Marlins were the only NL East team against which Minor had a losing record in 2012, going 1-2 with a 3.98 ERA in four starts.

Injuries to Nathan Eovaldi and Henderson Alvarez opened the door for Sanabia to start the season in the Marlins’ rotation. The 24-year-old responded in his season debut Friday against New York, shutting out the Mets for six innings to earn Miami’s first victory of the season. Sanabia worked in and out of trouble, walking three and allowing six hits.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta RF Jason Heyward, who was 0-for-17 in the previous five games, played only as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning Tuesday.

2. Atlanta rookie C Evan Gattis went 2-for-4 and hit his second homer Tuesday, raising his average to .368.

3. Sanabia has three career starts against the Braves (all no-decisions), posting a 3.86 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 16 1/3 innings.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Marlins 2