MLB Game Preview - Atlanta at Miami

Sun Aug 11, 2019 1:10 PM EDT

Red-hot leadoff batter Ronald Acuna and the visiting Atlanta Braves will close out their four-game series with the Miami Marlins on Sunday.

Atlanta, which lost to the Marlins 7-6 on a walk-off sacrifice fly by Martin Prado on Saturday, will be looking earn a split in the series.

But overall this season, the Braves are 11-4 against Miami -- including 7-2 at Marlins Park.

Acuna has been a big part of that overall success as he has made a habit of demolishing Marlins pitching. With perhaps the quickest hands in the National League, Acuna has 32 homers this year. And, in 33 career games against the Marlins, he has 14 homers and 32 RBIs.

In addition to Acuna's hitting, there is his defense to consider. The 21-year-old native of Venezuela is a five-tool-type player, but he has yet to find a steady home in the outfield, moving from left to center to right.

But because Braves right fielder Nick Markakis hasn't played since July 26 due to a fractured left wrist, Acuna has taken his spot and looked comfortable there. And with Markakis set to enter free agency after this season, Acuna's move could be permanent.

"I like him there," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Acuna in right. "He did a good job in center, but his arm really plays in right. His arm is a weapon -- strong and accurate."

Acuna's expected leadoff man counterpart on Sunday -- Marlins shortstop Jon Berti -- has been impressive of late. Certainly, Berti is not in Acuna's class -- few players are -- but he has made Marlins executives take notice due to his speed and hustle.

Berti, 29, played his college ball at Bowling Green and was an 18th-round pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2011. However, he didn't make his major league debut until 2018, and he didn't make his mark until this season as he has a .303 batting average and an .813 OPS.

With starting shortstop Miguel Rojas likely out for a few weeks due to a hamstring injury, Berti has 10 extra-base hits and five steals in five tries in just 99 at-bats.

"He's getting a shot," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "He has a chance to be a piece for us because of his speed. He puts pressure on other teams."

As for Sunday's starting pitchers, they're not likely to make any posters to commemorate this matchup between Marlins right-hander Hector Noesi (0-1, 9.00 ERA) and Braves right-hander Mike Foltynewicz (3-5, 6.26 ERA).

Both pitchers are making comebacks of sorts.

On Tuesday, Noesi allowed five runs in five innings against the New York Mets, taking the loss in his first major league game since 2015.

Sunday's game will be the first time that Noesi, 32, has pitched in Marlins Park and also mark his debut against the Braves.

Foltynewicz, 27, on Tuesday pitched in the majors for the first time in six weeks. After winning a combined 32 games the past three years, Foltynewicz had been demoted to the minors due to ineffectiveness.

In his return to the majors on Tuesday, he allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings in a win over the Minnesota Twins. He changed his tactics, throwing his slider a career-high 46.5 percent of the time.

He has a good track record against the Marlins -- 5-2 with a 3.12 ERA in 11 career outings, including 10 starts. In four games at Marlins Park, he is even better, posting a 2-1 record with a 1.89 ERA.

--Field Level Media