Braves at Marlins
With 16 days remaining in the regular season, Atlanta would have to suffer a big collapse for the second straight year to miss the playoffs again. The Braves swept NL East leader Washington over the weekend, and arrive in Miami for a three-game series with the Marlins just 5 ½ games out of first place -- and seven ahead of St. Louis for the top NL wild-card spot. Miami has struggled putting together victories in the second half. The Marlins could not finish a weekend sweep of Cincinnati, losing Sunday in extra innings.
The Marlins have not won three consecutive games since July 4-6. Miami is 3-9 against the Braves this season, scoring only 25 runs in those 12 contests. The teams play six times in the next nine games. Wade LeBlanc starts the series opener for the Marlins, while the Braves turn to Tim Hudson. Atlanta has won eight of its past 11 games.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta), Fox Sports Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Atlanta RH Tim Hudson (14-6, 3.66 ERA) vs. Miami LH Wade LeBlanc (2-4, 2.95)
Hudson has hit his first mini-skid of the season, going 1-2 in three September starts with a 4.34 ERA. He allowed four runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings in a loss to Milwaukee on Tuesday. The 37-year-old is 2-0 with a 1.69 ERA against the Marlins this season.
In two starts since moving back to the rotation from the bullpen, LeBlanc has allowed six runs on nine hits in 11 innings, going 0-1. He made his first of seven starts this season against the Braves on Aug. 1, holding Atlanta to one run on five hits in 4 1/3 innings. LeBlanc is 1-3 with a 3.76 ERA as a starter.
WALK-OFFS
1. Two Marlins have given Hudson particular trouble: SS Jose Reyes (three homers, .286 average in 77 at-bats) and 1B Carlos Lee (.343 average, 10 RBIs in 35 at-bats).
2. Lee left Friday’s game with a sore neck, but homered Saturday and had a hit and a walk Sunday.
3. Atlanta C Brian McCann is day-to-day with tendinitis in his right hamstring.