Will Braves win second straight over Marlins?
The nightmare is over – Atlanta has finally found the win column. Can the Braves make it two in a row, though, when they square off with the Marlins at 7:10 p.m. ET?
Oddsmakers aren’t ready to laud Fredi Gonzalez’s club just yet. According to online sports book Bovada.lv, Miami enters the evening affair as a 1.5-run favorite. As for the over/under total, it sits at eight runs.
On the heels of its initial victory of 2016, however, Atlanta couldn’t care less about the pundits and prognosticators. Thanks to outfielder Adonis Garcia’s three-RBI performance, the Braves rallied from a three-run deficit on Friday to defeat Don Mattingly’s squad. The triumph was Atlanta’s first since last Oct. 4.
Conversely, the Marlins dropped their third straight at home. Giancarlo Stanton (.233 average) went homerless for the third consecutive contest, and Mattingly can’t seem to rely on many in the lineup besides Christian Yelich (.429).
One bright spot: Miami’s pitching remains exemplary. Nary a starter this week has permitted more than three runs. Tom Koehler’s tasked with continuing the pattern vs. Atlanta. The veteran righty posted a sturdy season debut against Washington, but his sub.-500 record when facing the Braves causes some misgivings.
MLB Quick Links: Free Matchup Reports | Injuries | Odds Comparison | Scoreboard | Betting Trends
The visitors must take advantage of a Miami group that lacks cohesion to begin the campaign. While starter Bud Norris (0-2, 6.00 ERA) will likely serve up a dinger or two, the Marlins shouldn’t be trusted at the moment. Let the good times roll (for a weekend, at least) for Gonzalez and company.
SATURDAY MLB FREE PICK: BRAVES +1.5
Want More From TheSpread.com? Follow on Twitter and Facebook or Subscribe to Our News Feeds!