The Miami Marlins seem to be back on track after winning the series opener against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday. Once presumed to be headed for disaster, the Marlins have won 12 of their last 15 to get three games over .500 and right back in the NL East race.
They knocked the Braves around on Wednesday in an 8-4 win that brought them within three games of division leading Washington, which regained the outright lead with Atlanta’s loss. Miami’s renaissance has been highlighted by Giancarlos Stanton’s quick turnaround after a tepid start to the year. He went almost a month without homering, but now leads the team with eight after blasting a two-run bomb last night. Stanton has +500 odds to make it back-to-back nights and hit a homer tonight, according to Bovada’s Marlins vs. Braves Player Props.
That’ll be a tough task to do against Atlanta’s starter Brandon Beachy, though. He’s holding opponents to a .181 batting average, and allowed just one homer in 45 innings. The righty has been Atlanta’s best pitcher so far, going 4-1 with a microscopic 1.60 ERA. He put together his sixth quality start in a row last week against the St. Louis Cardinals. He gave up just one run in six innings, the seventh time this season he’s allowed two runs or less.
Ricky Nolasco gets the ball for the Marlins in hopes of becoming the franchise’s all-time winningest pitcher. He’s currently tied with Dontrelle Willis with 68 victories after losing last week to the New York Mets. He had a chance to break the record in New York, but unravled for nine hits, three walks and six runs in 4 2/3 innings. He also hit two batters.
Nolasco hasn’t had much success against Atlanta, going 5-7 with a 4.80 ERA in 20 meetings. The trio of Brian McCann, Chipper Jones and Martin Prado have brutalized him, hitting a combined .350 with 10 home runs.
The Braves are favored by 1 1/2 runs, according to Bovada’s Marlins vs. Braves Betting Lines, with a -140 moneyline.