Florida (52-53) at Atlanta (61-45)
With their next 12 games against the three clubs chasing them in the East, the Braves are looking to make a strong push for the division lead.
Florida seeks its longest road winning streak in nearly seven years and its sixth consecutive victory overall Friday night when it opens a three-game series at Turner Field.
A season-low 11 games below .500 on June 28, the Marlins (52-53) have won 18 of 26 since to climb out of the division basement and within two games of the third-place New York Mets. Florida hasn’t been at the break-even point since it was 32-32 on June 12.
“That’s our goal - to get to .500 and roll,” manager Jack McKeon told the Marlins’ official website after his club completed a three-game sweep at Washington with Thursday’s 5-3 victory. “But we have to do well in Atlanta, and I think we will. We’re hitting guys now.”
That’s definitely been the case for Emilio Bonifacio(notes) and Mike Stanton(notes). Bonifacio has hit safely in 26 straight games - the second-longest streak in club history - while Stanton has four homers in the last six games.
“It’s just complete team contributions, and that’s what you need to get sweeps and on rolls like this,” Stanton said.
The Marlins will give the ball to Clay Hensley(notes) (1-2, 2.88 ERA) as they try to win seven in a row away from Miami for the first time since Aug. 21-Sept. 10, 2004.
Making his second start after missing more than a month with a sprained right shoulder, the right-hander helped Florida begin its current win streak by allowing two runs in five innings in Saturday’s 8-5 victory over the Mets.
Hensley, who came out of the bullpen for his first 20 appearances this season, makes his first start versus Atlanta following 13 relief appearances. He retired both batters he faced in a 6-5 win in Atlanta on April 14.
The Braves dropped two of three to Florida during that three-game set in April, but former Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez’s team swept a three-game series in Miami from June 7-9.
Atlanta (61-45), winner of 14 of 18 at Turner Field, trails East-leading Philadelphia by five games as it begins a key stretch against Florida, the Mets and the Nationals.
Brandon Beachy(notes) (3-2, 3.58) will try to help Braves rebound from Thursday’s 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh, but the rookie right-hander has walked nine and surrendered four homers in his last two starts.
“I think I can paint that perfect corner,” Beachy told the Braves’ official website Sunday after allowing three runs - one earned - over six innings of a 4-3 loss at Cincinnati. “Some days I go out there and do it, and others days I don’t. Those are the days I need to make that adjustment a little quicker.”
In the April 14 loss, Beachy struck out eight but walked four and yielded five runs over 5 1-3 innings.
Braves second baseman Dan Uggla(notes) is batting .347 (25 for 72) with six homers and 12 RBIs during a career-best 19-game hitting streak, but he is 3 for 21 against his former team.
Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman(notes) has three consecutive three-hit games and is 21 for 50 (.420) during a 12-game hitting streak.
The Florida Marlins have a ways to go to get back in the NL East race, but they’re on the verge of returning to .500.
Florida seeks its longest road winning streak in nearly seven years and its sixth consecutive victory overall Friday night when it opens a three-game series at Turner Field.
A season-low 11 games below .500 on June 28, the Marlins (52-53) have won 18 of 26 since to climb out of the division basement and within two games of the third-place New York Mets. Florida hasn’t been at the break-even point since it was 32-32 on June 12.
“That’s our goal - to get to .500 and roll,” manager Jack McKeon told the Marlins’ official website after his club completed a three-game sweep at Washington with Thursday’s 5-3 victory. “But we have to do well in Atlanta, and I think we will. We’re hitting guys now.”
That’s definitely been the case for Emilio Bonifacio(notes) and Mike Stanton(notes). Bonifacio has hit safely in 26 straight games - the second-longest streak in club history - while Stanton has four homers in the last six games.
“It’s just complete team contributions, and that’s what you need to get sweeps and on rolls like this,” Stanton said.
The Marlins will give the ball to Clay Hensley(notes) (1-2, 2.88 ERA) as they try to win seven in a row away from Miami for the first time since Aug. 21-Sept. 10, 2004.
Making his second start after missing more than a month with a sprained right shoulder, the right-hander helped Florida begin its current win streak by allowing two runs in five innings in Saturday’s 8-5 victory over the Mets.
Hensley, who came out of the bullpen for his first 20 appearances this season, makes his first start versus Atlanta following 13 relief appearances. He retired both batters he faced in a 6-5 win in Atlanta on April 14.
The Braves dropped two of three to Florida during that three-game set in April, but former Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez’s team swept a three-game series in Miami from June 7-9.
Atlanta (61-45), winner of 14 of 18 at Turner Field, trails East-leading Philadelphia by five games as it begins a key stretch against Florida, the Mets and the Nationals.
Brandon Beachy(notes) (3-2, 3.58) will try to help Braves rebound from Thursday’s 5-2 loss to Pittsburgh, but the rookie right-hander has walked nine and surrendered four homers in his last two starts.
“I think I can paint that perfect corner,” Beachy told the Braves’ official website Sunday after allowing three runs - one earned - over six innings of a 4-3 loss at Cincinnati. “Some days I go out there and do it, and others days I don’t. Those are the days I need to make that adjustment a little quicker.”
In the April 14 loss, Beachy struck out eight but walked four and yielded five runs over 5 1-3 innings.
Braves second baseman Dan Uggla(notes) is batting .347 (25 for 72) with six homers and 12 RBIs during a career-best 19-game hitting streak, but he is 3 for 21 against his former team.
Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman(notes) has three consecutive three-hit games and is 21 for 50 (.420) during a 12-game hitting streak.
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