Braves Struggle
The Atlanta Braves look to get their struggling lineup untracked Wednesday night when they try for a split of a four-game set with the Florida Marlins.
Atlanta (33-26) and Florida (29-31) split Tuesday’s doubleheader, but the Braves continue to struggle with their bats. They didn’t get a hit until the seventh inning in a 5-1 loss in the nightcap after not scoring for the first six innings of a 3-1 victory in the opener.
Oddsmakers have made Atlanta -115 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for todays game, the over/under has been set at 9.5un total runs (Matchup). Our public betting information shows that 72% of bets for this game have been placed on Atlanta -115 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
"That’s not going to get the job done," Braves manager Bobby Cox said.
The Braves have scored nine runs over their last four games and learned Tuesday that third baseman Chipper Jones, who was eligible to come off the disabled list Friday, will likely need several more weeks to recover from two injured wrists.
To make matters worse, center fielder Andruw Jones went a combined 0-for-8 in the doubleheader after hitting safely in his previous 10 games.
Andruw Jones is hitless in 14 career at-bats against Florida starter Scott Olsen (4-5, 5.35 ERA), but Atlanta has done well against the left-hander over the years. Olsen is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in two starts against the Braves this season, and 1-3 with an 8.51 ERA against them for his career.
Olsen has also lost his last two starts by posting an 8.44 ERA. He gave up five runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings as Florida lost 8-5 to Milwaukee on Friday.
The Marlins, meanwhile, may be without their top run producer Wednesday. Miguel Cabrera left the second game in the seventh inning after his right hamstring tightened while running the bases. The third baseman, batting .320 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs, is listed as day-to-day.
Aaron Boone will likely start at third base if Cabrera doesn’t play. Boone has four RBIs in his last three games.
"He (Boone) knows what to do in every situation," Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez told the team’s Web site. "It seems like he’s always in the middle of something."
Cabrera is hitting .372 (16-for-43) in his last 11 games.
Florida is completing an 11-game road trip after winning six of the first 10 games. The Marlins have won 11 of their last 16 road games.
Kyle Davies (3-3, 4.99) will get the ball for the Braves on Wednesday. Davies has been terrible in his career against the Marlins, going 0-3 with a 9.68 ERA in four starts and two relief appearances against them.
The right-hander was charged with an 8-7 loss against Florida on April 23 when he allowed five runs, six hits and a season-high six walks in four-plus innings.
Davies has alternated wins and losses over his last five starts. He won his last outing by giving up one run and six hits in seven innings as Atlanta beat the Chicago Cubs 8-5 on Friday.
by: Dave Michaels – thespread.com – Email Us
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