Braves at Marlins
Justin Upton captured plenty of headlines by blasting 12 homers in April and, after a sluggish May and June, the Atlanta Braves’ left fielder is heating up again. Upton looks to continue his recent surge - during which he is hitting .320 with five doubles, one homer and six RBIs in his past five games - as the Braves aim for a three-game sweep at Miami on Wednesday. Atlanta is averaging 6.3 runs through eight July contests and has outscored Miami 43-20 in eight games this season.
Miami has lost six of eight to the Braves this season and has dropped five in a row overall. Jacob Turner takes the mound looking to extend the Marlins’ recent run of strong starting pitching. Miami starters have allowed three runs or fewer in 19 of the past 22 contests, helping the Marlins go 19-16 in their past 35 games after a 13-41 start.
TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportSouth (Atlanta), Fox Sports Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Paul Maholm (9-7, 3.81 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Jacob Turner (2-1, 2.30).
Maholm’s two-start winning streak ended Friday in Philadelphia, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits in six innings of a 5-4 loss. Maholm has allowed four earned runs in three of his past five starts, and the Braves have scored three runs or fewer in eight of his 18 starts. He is 6-7 with a 4.57 ERA after winning his first three starts and not allowing an earned run.
Turner has dominated in three home starts, going 2-0 with one complete game, a 1.57 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. The right-hander struggled Friday at St. Louis, allowing four runs on seven hits in six innings. He had allowed only four earned runs in his previous three starts covering 21 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Braves own baseball’s best home record, but they have made themselves at home at Marlins Park: Atlanta is 5-0 in Miami this season and 12-2 since the Marlins’ new ballpark opened last season.
2. Miami closer Steve Cishek has pitched 14 1/3 scoreless innings, the longest active streak in the National League.
3. Turner lost his only start vs. Atlanta, allowing four runs (two earned) in six innings last September.
PREDICTION: Marlins 3, Braves 2