MLB Game Preview - Atlanta at Miami

Thu Aug 8, 2019 7:10 PM EDT

The Atlanta Braves, the leaders of the National League East and owners of the second-best record in the NL, visit the Miami Marlins on Thursday to start a four-game series.

These are two franchises going in opposite directions. The Braves, bustling with young talent, are on pace to win their second straight division title. They have won six of their past nine games, including Wednesday's 11-7 takedown of the Minnesota Twins.

Braves 22-year-old second baseman Ozzie Albies homered twice on Wednesday in his second straight four-hit game.

"I'm so proud of what he's done this year," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Albies, who is hitting .296 with 17 homers and 63 RBIs. "He's grown and matured."

Meanwhile, the Marlins, who have the worst record in the NL, just got swept in four games by the New York Mets. Overall, the Marlins have lost six straight games.

"It's frustrating," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "We got manhandled this whole trip."

Making matters worse for the Marlins, they lost their starting shortstop, Miguel Rojas, who was placed on the injured list Wednesday due to an injury to his right hamstring.

Rojas, who is hitting .289 and has provided outstanding defense, has been replaced at shortstop by Jon Berti (.284). Berti, who hustles and has shown he can hit, is a downgrade from Rojas defensively.

Thursday's pitching matchup features Braves left-hander Dallas Keuchel (3-4, 3.86 ERA) against Marlins right-hander Elieser Hernandez (1-4, 5.66 ERA).

Keuchel, a two-time All-Star who won the Cy Young award in 2015 and earned a World Series ring in 2017, is 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA in three career starts against the Marlins.

The last time Keuchel faced the Marlins was on July 7. He beat Miami on that date at Marlins Park, allowing five hits, one walk and two runs in 7 1/3 innings, striking out four.

In his past seven outings, Keuchel, 31, has five quality starts.

Hernandez, 24, is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in six career outings against Atlanta. However, five of those outings were in relief.

Perhaps the Marlins can find some optimism in the fact that most of Hernandez's biggest problems this year have come on the road (0-3, 7.20 ERA). He is 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA at home.

Lefty batters have had more success against Hernandez with a 1.056 OPS as opposed to .702 against right-handed hitters. He has been better as a starter (4.81 ERA) than a reliever (9.39).

Even so, the odds will be stacked against the Marlins on Thursday, especially considering Atlanta's lineup.

Among the biggest Braves stars are first baseman Freddie Freeman, who is batting .309 with 29 homers and 92 RBIs; and center fielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who is batting .293 with 29 homers and 74 RBIs.

Even with two starters on the injured list -- shortstop Dansby Swanson (left foot) and outfielder Nick Markakis (left wrist) -- the Braves still have a deep batting order. That includes third baseman Josh Donaldson, who has 26 homers and 68 RBIs.

Miami's lineup is led by right fielder Brian Anderson, who slugged his team-high 18th homer of the season on Wednesday. He is hitting .248 with 55 RBIs.

--Field Level Media