Atlanta Braves (17-21) vs. Miami Marlins (17-20)
May 21, 2022 6:10 pm EDT
The Line: Miami Marlins +120 / Atlanta Braves -161; Over/Under: +8
(Get latest betting odds)
The Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins meet Saturday in MLB action from Marlins Park. This will be the second installment in a three-game weekend series. In the opener matchup on Friday, the Braves took a two-run victory. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.
Atlanta played the Brewers this week. The Braves didn’t have much luck in that series and lost two of three. On Friday versus Miami, Atlanta notched three runs in the first inning on the way to a 5-3 win. Starter Charlie Morton lasted 5.1 innings with three earned on seven hits and a walk.
For the starter gig in the Saturday game, the Braves are sending out Kyle Wright. Over seven starts this year Wright has a 2.79 ERA with a 3-2 record. In 42.0 innings Wright has 33 hits, 13 earned, 13 walks and 50 Ks.
Over on the Marlins’ side, they played the Nationals this week. Miami managed two wins in three games for a series victory in that one. On Friday, the Marlins out-hit the Braves 10-9 but still took the loss. Trevor Rogers put up 4.0 innings in the start with five earned on eight hits and a pair of walks.
Elieser Hernandez will make the start for the Marlins on Saturday. This year over seven starts Hernandez is 2-3 with a 6.15 ERA. Across 33.2 innings total he’s put up 36 hits, 23 earned runs, 12 walks and 30 strikeouts total.
The Braves are 4-0 in the last four in game two of a series and 10-2 in their last 12 Saturday games. Atlanta is 20-9 in their last 29 versus the NL East.
Meanwhile, the Marlins are 4-0 in their last four Saturday games and 5-12 in their last 17 overall. The over is 4-1 in Miami’s last five Saturday games.
PICK: I’m probably going to try the Braves here. Wright had a bad start back on May 10 versus the Red Sox (4.2 innings; six earned) but he bounced back in his last appearance. Wright posted 6.1 innings versus the Padres in that one, with one earned on three hits and two walks. Trouble is, Wright is 0-2 in his last three games and not getting much offensive help. As for Hernandez, he’s in something of the same boat despite not pitching too badly himself lately. Should be an interesting matchup overall, and you wouldn’t be crazy to try the Marlins here either.
