Braves Welcome Marlins to SunTrust Park for 3-Game Set

After a huge series win against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Atlanta Braves (72-52) had the day off on Monday before pivoting to a three-game series against the Miami Marlins (45-78), who are in the cellar of the division.

Even though Miami is rebuilding, the NL East-leading Braves can't take them lightly. They have good, young pitching, and two weeks ago gave the Braves everything they could ask for in a series split.

With the Washington Nationals playing good ball, this series against the worst team in the National League should do wonders for the Braves, who only lead the division by five games. This meeting with the Marlins may not grab national headlines, but it's an important three games for the Braves before they head back out on the road.

August 20th: RHP Elieser Hernandez vs. LHP Dallas Keuchel

Elieser Hernandez has pitched in the bullpen and starting rotation this year, racking up 15 appearances (nine starts) this season where he owns a 5.40 ERA with 55 strikeouts over 53.1 innings. He's been a little hit or miss when he takes the mound, including his last start against the Dodgers, in which he gave up 6 runs over six innings. However, arguably his best start of the season came against the Braves in early August, as he tossed six shutout innings with 7 strikeouts.

Veteran southpaw Dallas Keuchel is looking for revenge against the Marlins, who in the same game against Hernandez gave up a whopping 8 runs on 10 hits over just 3.2 innings. Keuchel did bounce back nicely against the Mets to throw six shutout innings last week, but in a home start against Miami, he's going to want to shut everyone down.

August 21st: LHP Caleb Smith vs. RHP Julio Teheran

Left-hander Caleb Smith has been Miami's best starter this season, posting an 8-6 record with a 3.63 ERA over 20 starts. However, the Braves got the best of him in Miami, as he lasted only 4.2 innings and allowed 6 runs and 10 hits.

Julio Teheran has been a bit of a Marlin-killer over his career, posting a 9-6 record with a 3.60 ERA over 24 career starts against them, including four starts against the Fish and a 0.36 ERA this season. That includes his last time out, in which he went seven innings and allowed just 1 run with 7 strikeouts.

August 22nd: RHP Sandy Alcantara vs. RHP Mike Soroka

It ended up being an extra inning, walk-off win for the Marlins, but before that, it was shaping up to be one of the best pitchers duels of the year between Sandy Alcantara and Mike Soroka barely a week ago.

Alcantara has electric stuff, and in that start against Atlanta, he went 7.2 innings and allowed just 3 runs on 5 hits with 6 strikeouts. His season numbers don't look that special, but he's shown top-of-the-rotation ability in stretches.

Soroka, on the other hand, is not only in the NL Rookie of the Year race, but could even find himself getting votes for the NL Cy Young Award. He's 10-2 with a 2.41 ERA in 2019. In that dreadful no-decision against Miami, he tossed seven shutout innings and struck out 6 batters.