Braves at Marlins
The Atlanta Braves have an opportunity to win yet another series on Sunday at the Miami Marlins, and first baseman Freddie Freeman continues to help lead a powerful offense. Freeman slugged two homers and scored three times during a three-hit performance in Saturday’s 10-5 victory, raising his average to .372 with six homers, 18 RBIs and 15 runs scored in his past 19 games to put the Braves in position to win their ninth series in 13 tries this season.
The Braves, who came into Saturday leading the National League in runs scored and extra-base hits, blew open the game with five runs in the final two innings, including Ender Inciarte’s two-run homer as Atlanta increased its lead in the NL East to one game over Philadelphia. The Marlins’ early-season bullpen struggles continued Saturday, as Miami relievers walked in two runs in the eighth inning in seeing their relievers’ ERA swell to 5.53. Miami left fielder Derek Dietrich hit a three-run double in the fifth inning, giving him at least one RBI in four of his past six games against the Braves. Second baseman Starlin Castro finished with two hits and now has at least one hit in 29-of-34 career games at Marlins Park.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves LH Sean Newcomb (3-1, 2.88 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Jose Urena (0-5, 4.37)
Newcomb has kicked off May with back-to-back shutout appearances, holding the New York Mets to two hits with eight strikeouts in seven innings on May 2 and going six innings Tuesday at Tampa Bay with two hits surrendered and six strikeouts. The 24-year-old, who posted a 1.57 WHIP in 19 starts as a rookie in 2017, has lowered that figure to 1.20 through seven starts this season. Newcomb finished 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in two starts a year ago against Miami.
Urena has endured an up-and-down start to the season, mixing in outstanding starts with subpar efforts through eight appearances. The 26-year-old gave up three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in a no-decision Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, and he has surrendered five earned runs across his past three starts (19 1/3 innings) while giving up 11 earned runs in 15 frames in his previous three outings. Urena went 2-1 in five starts against Atlanta last season with a 2.76 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami C J.T. Realmuto has at least one hit in all nine of his home games this season, and in 14-of-15 games at home dating back to Sept. 5, 2017.
2. Atlanta rookie LF Ronald Acuna Jr. snapped a 4-for-30 skid with a fifth-inning single.
3. Braves 3B Jose Bautista hit his first homer of the season in the sixth inning, one inning after committing a costly fielding error that led to four unearned runs.