The hot Atlanta Braves will host the struggling Miami Marlins in a three-game series that begins Monday night between the National League East rivals.
Atlanta rolled to a 13-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday night. The Braves are the only team in Major League Baseball not to lose a series this season and scored 24 runs in the three-game set vs. Cleveland even after being shut out 6-0 in the middle game.
While their offense is feeling it — the Braves had 19 hits on Sunday — their defense is what stood out to starting pitcher Chris Sale.
The 37-year-old left-hander dealt with plenty of traffic on the bases in the series finale. He scattered eight hits and gave up a walk, but the Braves’ defense turned a double play and collected a forceout at second base on a hit center fielder Mauricio Dubon lost in the lights.
Atlanta didn’t let Cleveland cobble together any rallies, as the Guardians were 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
“When the ball is in the air, more times than not, someone is going to catch it,” Sale said. “These guys work really hard at it, and they are out there before the game taking ground balls. They take a lot of pride in that. I truly believe we have been throwing the ball well and scoring some runs, but it’s our defense keeping us in games.”
Shortstop Jorge Mateo made the most of his second straight start. He was 4-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. In seven games, he’s hitting .467 with a double, a home run and three RBIs.
“We have a tremendous team and lineup,” Mateo said. “Any time I get that opportunity, I try to make the most of it. I’m happy to be a part of a team with great versatility in the lineup and in the defense on the field.”
The Marlins, meanwhile, lost to the Detroit Tigers 8-2 on Sunday and were swept in the three-game road series, outscored 16-3.
Miami manager Clayton McCullough said the offense has to create more scoring opportunities.
“Detroit pitched well for three days,” he said. “Offensively we didn’t string a whole of things together. The few chances we had we weren’t able to cash in.”
If runners aren’t crossing the plate, Miami must find other ways to win.
“It starts on the bases for us,” Marlins bench coach Carson Vitale said. “Defense, base running and pitching. Those are the things we can control. Playing really good defense, taking care of the baseball and being really aggressive on the bases and taking advantage of extra bases.”
The Braves are scheduled to send right-hander Grant Holmes (1-1, 2.55 ERA) to the mound on Monday for Game 4 of their six-game homestand.
His most recent start came Wednesday in an 8-2 win over the Los Angeles Angels. Holmes allowed two runs on five hits, walked three and struck out six in 6 2/3 innings.
In his career, Holmes has started three games against Miami, going 1-0 with a 3.14 ERA.
Miami, which has lost seven of its past 10 games, will counter with right-hander Eury Perez (1-1, 5.06 ERA). In three career starts against the Braves, he is 0-2 with a 12.19 ERA. In 10 1/3 innings, he’s been roughed up for 18 hits, five which have been home runs.
–Field Level Media
