Marlins at Braves
Brian Anderson continues to impress in his initial stint in the major leagues as the Miami Marlins attempt to split a four-game series against the host Atlanta Braves on Sunday, one day after suffering a difficult loss. Anderson, who recorded his first career RBI and multi-hit performance in Thursday’s series opener, went 2-for-4 and drove in a run Saturday as the Marlins fell for the 11th time in 13 contests.
Giancarlo Stanton continues adding to his major league-leading home run total, belting his 54th of the season on Saturday - a 456-foot shot in the first inning - to give him 19 in his last 30 games. But it was not enough to keep Miami from falling behind in the series as Atlanta's Ender Inciarte, who collected two hits to give him 184 on the season, drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning to force in the winning run. Johan Camargo, who finished with two hits and three RBIs, is 4-for-10 with three RBIs in three games since returning from the disabled list Thursday. Freddie Freeman finished with two hits for the Braves, marking the sixth time in eight contests he has recorded a multi-hit performance.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), FSN South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Odrisamer Despaigne (0-3, 3.57 ERA) vs. Braves RH R.A. Dickey (9-9, 4.14)
Despaigne makes his fifth start of the season and fourth since rejoining Miami’s rotation on Aug. 26. He pitched well in his last start on Tuesday against Washington, allowing only one run and five hits in seven innings but took the hard-luck loss. The 30-year-old, who has not won a major-league game since 2015, has posted a 2.65 ERA and .213 opponents’ batting average in his past three starts.
Dickey looks to rebound after allowing six runs – the most he has surrendered in a start since mid-June – in an 8-2 loss to Texas on Monday. The 42-year-old makes his 28th start of the season and has struck out nine hitters in two of his last four outings. Dickey has faced the Marlins twice in 2017, going 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA and beating Miami at home on Aug. 4.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marlins CF Christian Yelich went 2-for-4 Saturday and is hitting 5-for-11 in the series.
2. Atlanta’s bullpen, which entered Saturday with a 5.08 ERA in September, allowed just one run and three hits over 5 1/3 innings.
3. Miami 2B Dee Gordon pushed his hitting streak to a career high-tying 13 games.