Atlanta @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( May 20, 2018 ) Miami 9, Atlanta 10

The Atlanta Braves have played well against National League East foes this season as they contend for the division title and look to continue their good work inside the division Monday when they open a two-game series at the Miami Marlins. Atlanta split a rain-shortened two-game series over the weekend in Washington, enduring two long rain delays in Sunday’s 6-2 defeat that dropped the Braves mark in division play to 28-15, one season after they finished 33-43 against East competition.

Atlanta right fielder Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 10 games in Sunday’s defeat, while struggling center fielder Ender Inciarte snapped a 1-for-25 slid with three hits. Miami sat on the brink of its first series sweep of the season Sunday at Tampa Bay, only to see it unravel in a five-run ninth inning as the Marlins fell 6-4. Closer Kyle Barraclough threw 40 pitches in allowing five runs in the ninth, including a walk-off grand slam, and likely will not be available for the series opener. Third baseman Martin Prado has flourished in 12 games since returning from the disabled list, hitting .333 with five multi-hit games after going 2-for-4 on Sunday.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Sean Newcomb (8-5, 3.51 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Jose Urena (2-9, 4.39)

Newcomb stumbled into the All-Star break by losing each of his last three outings, posting a 9.75 ERA with 12 walks and four homers allowed in 12 innings. The 25-year-old, whose scheduled start Saturday at Washington was postponed by rain, had pitched himself into consideration for the NL All-Star team with a dominant May and June, during which he went 7-1 with a 2.07 ERA. Newcomb, who gave up three runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings in a July 14 loss to Arizona, is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA in two starts against Miami this season.

Urena has struggled one season after winning 14 games, losing his first seven decisions this season while allowing four earned runs or more eight times in 19 starts. The 26-year-old, who has yet to win a home start this season, ended the first half by allowing five runs with four walks over just four innings in a no-decision on July 15 against Philadelphia. Urena faced the Braves in back-to-back outings in mid-May, losing both while allowing seven runs on nine hits in 12 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marlins CF Cameron Maybin is hitting .315 with three homers while collecting at least one hit in 13 of his past 18 games.

2. The Braves stole six bases in the series to give them 57 on the season; Atlanta stole just 77 in 2017.

3. Atlanta leads the season series 5-2 and boasts a 38-20 record in Miami since 2012.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Marlins 2