Miami @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2013 ) Miami 4, Atlanta 5
One week ago, B.J. Upton was nearing the end of a 1-for-32 slump and the Atlanta Braves had just snapped a three-game losing streak. The Braves haven’t lost since, thanks in part to a resurgent Upton, and seek their seventh straight victory Sunday as they eye a three-game home sweep of the Miami Marlins. Upton – batting .195 this season – is 7-for-14 over his last four games and delivered a walk-off RBI single in Saturday’s victory, even snapping his 46-game homerless drought in the process.
While Upton is the latest player to step up for the Braves, who own the majors’ best record (83-52) and a 15-game lead in the National League East with 27 remaining, Miami is mired in a six-game skid. The NL-worst Marlins managed to score four runs for the first time in 10 games during their latest setback but rank last in the majors by a wide margin with 424 runs. On a bright note, the Marlins will welcome back Chris Coghlan, who hasn’t played since June 8 due to a back injury.
TV: 5:00 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), SportSouth (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Nathan Eovaldi (2-5, 3.76 ERA) vs. Braves LH Alex Wood (3-2, 2.27)
Eovaldi's winless streak reached eight starts Tuesday against Washington as he gave up two runs on eight hits over six frames. The 23-year-old has posted six quality starts over that stretch but is 0-5 with a 4.30 ERA due in part to poor run support. Eovaldi settled for a no-decision in his only start of the season versus Atlanta on Aug.10 despite allowing one hit and fanning eight over seven scoreless innings and is 0-1 with a 2.79 ERA in five career outings against the Braves.
Since joining the rotation on July 30, Wood is 3-0 with a 1.46 ERA and has allowed fewer than two runs in five consecutive outings. The latest such start for the 2012 second-round selection came in Tuesday’s 2-0 win over Cleveland in which he worked around five hits and four walks over 5 2/3 innings. Wood, who has yet to register a decision in three career appearances (one start) versus Miami, limited the Marlins to two hits over six scoreless frames in his head-to-head duel with Eovaldi on Aug. 10.
WALK-OFFS
1. Wood’s 0.90 ERA in five August starts was the lowest mark among pitchers that worked at least 20 innings.
2. The Marlins have scored fewer than two runs in four of Eovaldi’s last five starts and provided him with 2.82 runs of support this season, worst among Miami pitchers.
3. The Braves expect LF Justin Upton (left hand bruise) back in the starting lineup Sunday after he sat out Friday and served as a pinch hitter on Saturday.
PREDICTION: Braves 4, Marlins 2