Series preview: at Miami Marlins
When (TV): 7:10 p.m. Friday (FSSO), 7:10 p.m. Saturday (FSSO), 1:10 p.m. Sunday (FSSO)
Radio: 680, 93.7, 106.7
Probable starting pitchers:
Friday: Braves RH Aaron Harang (10-9, 3.64 ERA) vs. RH Jarred Cosart (3-1, 1.64)
Saturday: Braves LH Alex Wood (10-10, 2.92) vs. RH Nathan Eovaldi (6-10, 4.19)
Sunday: Braves RH Julio Teheran (12-9, 2.96 ERA) vs. TBA
About the Braves:
Batting: The Braves snapped a streak of 25 scoreless innings – including Monday's no-hitter by Cole Hamels and three other Phillies – when they scored three runs in the second inning Wednesday on their way to a 7-4 win. Catcher Christian Bethancourt went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, driving in the run to break the scoreless streak as the game-winner in the first start of his September call-up. B.J. Upton's two-run homer Wednesday was his first since Aug. 12 and his 10th of the year, one more than he had in his first season with the Braves last year.
Pitching: The first time Harang pitched at Marlins Park this year he was suspicious that Marlins hitters were stealing signs after they pounded out nine runs on 10 hits, including two homers, in 4 2/3 innings off him. Harang alluded afterward to them "all hitting like Ted Williams today." Over their next three starts against them, Marlins hitters were more pedestrian, scoring only seven earned runs in 19 1/3 innings (3.26 ERA) but the Marlins won two of those three games. Craig Kimbrel leads the majors with 42 saves in 46 chances.
Miscellaneous: The Braves are 21-24 since the All-Star break – 1-2 in September, 14-14 in August and 13-13 in July. Justin Upton left Tuesday's game after being hit by a pitch in the left triceps and did not play Wednesday. He's likely to be back in the lineup Friday after having Thursday's off day to rest.
About the Marlins:
Batting: Casey McGehee has hit safely in 11 of his previous 12 games, including seven straight, going 15-for-49 (.306) over that span with four multi-hit games. Christian Yelich is leading the majors with a .414 average (36-for-87) since August 11. Giancarlo Stanton, who hit 36th homer Wednesday to tie Nelson Cruz for the major-league lead, is trying to become the third Marlins player with an on-base percentage of .400 or more (.402) and a slugging percentage of .500 or more (.566) in a season. Miguel Cabrera (2007) and Gary Sheffield (1996) are the only others to do it.
Pitching: Cosart has foiled the Braves twice this year, first on June 26 with the Astros (one run in seven innings of a 6-1 win) and then again on August 30 after being traded to the Marlins (seven shutout innings in a 4-0 win). He is 2-0 with a 0.64 ERA in two starts against them, allowing only one earned run in 14 innings. This is a rematch of his most recent start in Atlanta against Harang, who allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings and lost. The Marlins bullpen has posted a 2.57 ERA since the All-Star break, second best in the National League, and allowed just two home runs.
Miscellaneous: All-Star Henderson Alvarez was scheduled to start Sunday's finale but left his start Monday after only 40 pitches with an oblique strain. If he's unable to go, the Marlins could turn to September call-up Andrew Heaney, a left-hander. The Marlins have lost nine of their past 13 games including two of three to the Braves last weekend in Atlanta. The season series is tied 8-8.
- Carroll Rogers
