The Atlanta Braves (21-10) are on the road to face the Miami Marlins (16-15) at loanDepot park on Thursday with the visitors eyeing a sweep of the three-game series.
The Braves lead the series 2-0 after winning 14-6 on Wednesday, their fifth head-to-head victory in six games this season. Reliever Collin McHugh threw three scoreless innings to get the win.
Ozzie Albies was 4 for 5 with a home run and two doubles in the win. He scored two runs and had two RBIs. Marcell Ozuna went 3 for 5 with two home runs, three runs, and five RBIs. Jesus Sanchez went 3 for 4 with a home run, three runs, and two RBIs for the Marlins.
ON THE MOUND
Dylan Dodd (1-1, 7.71 ERA) is slated to take the mound for Atlanta. The southpaw allowed seven runs over 4.1 innings in his last start, a 10-2 home defeat against the Padres on April 9. He was charged with the loss, scattering 10 hits while striking out three and walking one.
Lefty Jesus Luzardo (2-1, 3.48 ERA) will toe the rubber for Miami. It’s his first appearance of the season against the Braves. Luzardo made three appearances against the Braves in 2022, all starts, striking out 26 and walking seven over 16 innings (2-1, 2.81).
In his last start on Friday, Luzardo took a no-decision at home against the Cubs. He threw 6.1 innings and gave up two runs on five hits, striking out six and walking two in the 3-2 win.
AT THE PLATE
Over the last five games, Atlanta has averaged 7.2 runs a game, up from their season average of 5.5, while performing better across the board (.290/.365/.574). Against southpaws like Luzardo this season, the Braves have ann .836 OPS, third highest in MLB.
Sean Murphy is the team’s most powerful hitter against left-handers with a .688 slugging percentage in 43 at-bats.Miami is averaging 4.0 runs per game in the last five, up slightly from 3.4 for the season.
The Fish have a .778 OPS against left-handers in 2023. With a .294 OPS over 26 at-bats, Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Atlanta is 14-3 on the road in 2023, scoring 6.0 runs per game while allowing 2.6 runs. Miami has gone 10-8 at loanDepot park this season, averaging 2.9 runs per game while surrendering 4.4. In the last 10 games at loanDepot park between the NL East rivals, Atlanta is 7-3 with an average scoreline of 5.2-3.5.
STANDINGS UPDATE
The Braves lead the NL East by five games over the Marlins.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Atlanta Braves (-110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
