Miami @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 13, 2018 ) Miami 1, Atlanta 6

Ronald Acuna has played just 66 games in the major leagues, but the Atlanta Braves' rookie outfielder already has etched his name in baseball history entering the third game of a four-game home series Tuesday against the Miami Marlins. The 20-year-old became the youngest player ever to homer in four consecutive games following Monday's doubleheader sweep, and just the fourth player ever to homer leading off both games of a doubleheader (first since Baltimore's Brady Anderson in 1999).

Acuna went 5-for-8 in the doubleheader and is batting .448 with six homers and 11 RBIs with 11 runs scored in his past seven games, helping power the Braves to 9-1 and 6-1 victories Monday and push Atlanta to one game ahead of Philadelphia in the National League East. The Braves have won 12 of their past 16 games to make up 3 ½ games in the standings, scoring 83 runs in that span. The Marlins have lost 12 of their past 14 and the news got worse during the doubleheader as third baseman Martin Prado strained his left quadriceps early in the first game - landing on the disabled list between games - and his replacement, Miguel Rojas, left the nightcap with a left ankle contusion after being thrown out at third base to end the third inning. J.T. Realmuto got the start at first base in the second game and finished 2-for-4 with three walks in the doubleheader, raising his average to .294 on the season.

TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), FS Southeast (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Trevor Richards (3-7, 3.98 ERA) vs. Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (6-3, 2.83)

Miami hands the ball to a rookie for the third consecutive game in the series, but Richards does have 17 starts and has provided glimpses of exciting potential. The 24-year-old posted a 1.32 ERA with a .189 batting average against in five starts from July 8 through Aug. 3, striking out 30 in 27 1/3 innings but only received one win in that stretch. Richards lost his last start Wednesday against St. Louis, surrendering three runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.

Sanchez will make his scheduled start despite taking a liner off his left calf Thursday at Washington that knocked him out after two innings. It was an unfortunate break for the Braves considering Sanchez had allowed one earned run in three of his previous five turns and struck out a season-high nine in a victory over the New York Mets on Aug. 3. Sanchez has limited opposing hitters to a .207 average, giving up 10 homers in 86 innings after allowing 26 in 105 1/3 innings last season with Detroit.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman had his 14-game hitting streak snapped in Monday’s opener, but he finished 2-for-4 with a homer in the nightcap.

2. The Marlins finished with just eight hits in the two games Monday, after recording 25 in their previous three games against the Mets.

3. Atlanta’s two starters in the doubleheader – Touki Toussaint (making his major-league debut) and Mike Foltynewicz – covered 14 innings, important considering the Braves are in the midst of playing 22 games in 21 days.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Marlins 3