Miami Marlins (59-81) vs. Atlanta Braves (74-65)
September 11, 2021 7:20 pm EDT
The Line: Atlanta Braves -323 / Miami Marlins +215; Over/Under: -7.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves meet Saturday in MLB action from SunTrust Park. This will be the second installment in a three-game weekend series. In the Friday opener, the Braves powered out a four-run win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Miami played the Mets this week, taking the series with victories on Wednesday and Thursday. In the Friday game versus Atlanta, the Marlins had an early lead but couldn’t hold on in a 6-2 defeat. Starter Trevor Rogers lasted 4.1 innings with four earned on three hits and one walk.
Starting pitcher for the Saturday game will be Miami’s Elieser Hernandez. Over his 32.1 innings this year Hernandez has 29 hits, 15 runs (14 earned), nine homers allowed, six walks, 33 Ks and a 3.90 ERA.
Over on the Braves’ side, they took a series win over the Nationals this week with victories Tuesday and Thursday. In the Friday game, Atlanta scored five runs in the fifth inning on the way to the win. Ian Anderson put up 5.0 frames with two earned on five hits and two walks.
For the starter gig in the Saturday game two, the Braves will go with Charlie Morton. In 158.0 innings this year Morton has 117 hits, 69 runs (61 earned), 15 homers allowed, 51 walks, 185 Ks and a 3.47 ERA.
The Marlins are 4-1 in their last five in game two of a series and 14-40 in their last 54 road games. Miami is 25-52 in their last 77 road games versus a team with a winning record and the under is 6-1 in the last seven in game two of a series.
Meanwhile, the Braves are 19-7 in their last 26 versus a team with a losing record and 0-5 in their last five in game two of a series. Atlanta is 21-8 in their last 29 versus the NL East and the under is 6-0-1 in their last seven in game two of a series.
PICK: I’m going with the Braves. Morton has pitched well over his last pair, totaling 13.0 innings with five hits, four walks, one homer and three earned runs. Morton has posted two or fewer earned runs in six of his last seven outings. As for Hernandez, he’s given up nine earned over his last 14.2 innings and has five homers allowed over his last three games. I like Morton to win the starter battle on the way to an Atlanta win in this one.
