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Marlins hoping to keep momentum going against Braves

John Benson

by John Benson in News

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:40 AM PST

You kind of get the sense the Miami Marlins (47-52) are a team on the rise. Maybe they’re not currently in the playoff hunt but a solid off-season could put this team back into October.

In the meantime the club is looking for small victories, which at this point would include winning a series against the Braves in Atlanta. Having won the first two games in a four-game series, the Marlins are putting Nathan Eovaldi (5-5, 4.08) on the mount tonight. This could be a problem considering he’s winless in his last four starts, including allowing eight runs, nine hits and two home runs last week against the Giants.

Manager Mike Redmond said, “They’ve been able to hit his fastball and take advantage of any mistake he seems to make over the course of a game. I don’t know if they’ve got something on him or what, but they’ve been able to do quite a bit of damage to him.”

As for the Braves (54-46), it’s business as usual with the team right behind the first-place Nationals. However, in the last few games the Atlanta bats have gone silent.

Said slugger Jason Heyward, “I feel like all of their pitchers in these first two games have thrown pretty well. I don’t think we had too many opportunities. But sometimes, you’ve got to take advantage of the ones you’ve got. Sometimes, it’s not going to happen.”

Pitching for The Braves is Ervin Santana (8-6, 4.03), who is 1-2 with a 5.61 ERA in five career starts against Miami.

Considering the pitching match-up, it’s hard not to like the o/u at 7.5 with Miami being 57-36-6.

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