Atlanta @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2013 ) Atlanta 2, Miami 5

The Miami Marlins will have to juggle their pitching rotation as they host the Atlanta Braves on Thursday in the finale of a four-game series. Miami turns to 6-7, 240-pound left-hander Brian Flynn to make Thursday’s start after Nathan Eovaldi was scratched because of back tightness. Brad Hand, who was to start the second game of a doubleheader Saturday, could be moved up to Friday when the Marlins open an 11-game road trip in New York.

Atlanta wraps up a seven-game road trip looking to jump start an offense that is hitting .225 in September. The Braves have scored 21 runs in their past seven contests and their lead over Washington in the National League East is down to 11 games, the slimmest margin since July 31. One Atlanta hitter faring well is Evan Gattis, who has earned steady playing time by hitting four homers in eight games since returning from the minors last week.

TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), Fox Sports Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Freddy Garcia (0-1, 1.17 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Brian Flynn (0-0, 6.75)

Garcia suffered his first loss for Atlanta on Friday in relief, allowing a walk-off homer to Freddy Galvis in Philadelphia. The 15-year veteran fired 4 2/3 innings of shutout relief against the Marlins in his Braves’ debut Sept. 1. He started the season in Baltimore, going 3-5 with a 5.77 ERA in 11 games (10 starts).

Flynn made his major-league debut Sept. 4 at Chicago, allowing three runs on six hits with three walks in four innings against the Cubs. He struck out 25 in 23 innings at Double-A Jacksonville before being promoted to Triple-A New Orleans, where we went 6-11 with a 2.80 ERA in 23 starts. The 23-year-old was drafted by Detroit in 2011 and traded to the Marlins as part of the Anibal Sanchez deal last July.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta is the only division leader with a sub-.500 road record (36-38).

2. Miami OF Giancarlo Stanton is 3-for-6 with a home run and four RBIs in two games since returning from an ankle injury.

3. Eight Atlanta players have 10 or more homers; OF B.J. Upton would make it nine if he hits one more.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Marlins 2