Miami @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2018 ) Miami 6, Atlanta 11

The Atlanta Braves scored only seven runs in losing four games in a row last week, but enter Wednesday’s series finale at home against the Miami Marlins riding a three-game winning streak that has been sparked by their offense. The Braves pounded out 19 hits Tuesday in battering the Marlins 11-6 and, after hitting .175 with just seven extra-base hits during their four-game skid, are batting .333 during the winning streak with 20 runs scored and 33 hits.

It is pretty clear rookie left fielder Ronald Acuna has found his home in the leadoff spot, finishing Tuesday 3-for-5 with a homer to raise his average to .302 with four homers and nine runs scored since moving to the top of the order July 15. Atlanta remained one-half game out of first place in the National League East entering Wednesday before embarking on an eight-game road trip. The Marlins have dropped six of their past nine games and their pitching is struggling, giving up six runs or more five times and posting a 6.39 ERA in that span with 12 homers allowed. Center fielder Magneuris Sierra, who went 1-for-10 in his first three games after being promoted, has hits in three of his past four games and finished with a career high-tying three hits Tuesday.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (2-2, 5.34 ERA) vs. Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (5-3, 3.00)

Lopez won his major-league debut June 30 with six impressive innings (two runs allowed on six hits) against the New York Mets, but has allowed four runs or more in three of his next four outings. The 22-year-old lost Friday to Washington, giving up four runs on nine hits over 5 2/3 innings - six days after holding Tampa Bay to one run on two hits in a victory. Lopez, who is holding right-handed hitters to a .226 average, posted a 1.44 ERA in 12 starts between Double-A and Triple-A before being promoted to the majors.

Sanchez has split his first two starts since the All-Star break, losing his most recent outing Thursday to the Los Angeles Dodgers in which he surrendered five runs (four earned) on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. The 34-year-old posted a 3.07 ERA in his five previous outings, including a victory over Washington on July 20 during which he struck out a season high-tying eight. Sanchez is 1-0 with a 1.64 ERA in three career outings against the Marlins, with the victory coming in 2016.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta’s top two hitters - 1B Freddie Freeman and RF Nick Markakis - combined to finish 5-for-9 with three runs scored and three RBIs Tuesday.

2. Miami C J.T. Realmuto has at least one hit in his past six games at Atlanta, with three doubles, two triples and a homer in that span.

3. The Marlins are 3-8 against Atlanta and have allowed 75 runs to the Braves this season.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Marlins 2