, recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett, replaced Gausman and allowed one run in four innings with six strikeouts.Freeman hit his sixth home run in the first inning. He has 26 career homers versus Miami, the most he has hit against any team.McCann hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth and a two-run homer in the sixth off Urena, his second. Josh Donaldson, back in the lineup after missing three games with a calf injury, contributed three hits and three RBIs.Gausman's first pitch to Urena was knee-high behind the batter, and plate umpire Jeff Nelson immediately signaled the ejection.The game was Urena's first against the Braves since he was suspended for six games for intentionally hitting Atlanta's Ronald Acuna Jr. on the arm with a pitch last August, triggering a bench-clearing confrontation.Urena (1-5) allowed five runs in six innings. In 15 career appearances against the Braves, he's 2-7 with an ERA of 6.07.Five Braves pitchers combined on a six-hitter against the Marlins, who are last in the majors in runs.ALSO TOSSEDAfter Gausman departed, there was no further escalation of tension between teams. But Marlins manager Don Mattingly was ejected by Nelson in the sixth inning for arguing balls and strikes.ROSTER MOVEBefore the game, the Marlins recalled from rehab and reinstated RHP Austin Brice (gastroenteritis) and optioned LHP Jarlin Garcia to Triple-A New Orleans.UP NEXTBraves: RHP Mike Soroka (2-1, 1.62) is scheduled to make his fourth start Saturday.Marlins: RHP Trevor Richards (0-4, 4.64) is winless in six starts even though opponents are batting .218 against him.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports---Follow Steven Wine on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Steve-Wine)
Friday Night Main Event: Urena to face Acuna, Braves When the Atlanta Braves visit the Miami Marlins on Friday to open a three-game series, many eyes will be on right-hander Jose Urena and left fielder Ronald Acuna.They are set to meet for the first time since Aug. 15 of last season, when Urena hit Acuna with a 97.5 mph fastball on his first pitch of the game, causing a benches-clearing scuffle.Acuna had started the previous three games with a home run, and that may have made him a target for a brush-back pitch.However, Urena said it wasn't intentional."I missed my spot, inside on the corner, where I wanted to start with him," said Urena, who was suspended six games for his role in the incident. "I tried to pitch inside to move him. It was a bad pitch." Before getting hit on his left elbow, Acuna had homered in five straight games, including the three most recent contests against the Marlins.Braves manager Brian Snitker had angry words for Urena that day as he ran toward the mound along with the rest of his bench."I think it was pretty evident what I thought," Snitker said. "That's a damn shame. (Acuna) is just playing the game." Fast forward to Friday night, when Urena will enter the game with a 1-4 record and a 5.08 ERA in six 2019 starts. He has pitched better of late, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in his past three starts.In his career against the Braves, Urena is 2-6 with a 5.91 ERA. He also has six hit-by-pitches in 53 1/3 innings vs. Atlanta. At Marlins Park, he is 11-25 with a 4.13 ERA.Meanwhile, the 21-year-old Acuna, the National League's reigning Rookie of the Year, is hitting .273 with six home runs in 31 games. Last season, he hit .293 with 26 homers in 111 games.Asked about the Urena-Acuna matchup, Braves center fielder Ender Inciarte dismissed its relevance as it pertains to Friday."That's in the past," Inciarte said. "We're just ready to play ball." Speaking of playing ball, the Braves will counter Urena with right-hander Kevin Gausman (1-2, 4.80 ERA). Gausman beat the Marlins on April 5, giving up just two hits and two walks in seven scoreless, striking out seven.In his two most recent starts, however, Gausman has surrendered 10 earned runs in 10 1/3 innings.In four career appearances against the Marlins, Gausman is 3-1 with a 1.52 ERA. At Marlins Park, he is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in five innings.The Braves are hoping that third baseman Josh Donaldson -- who has missed three straight games due to a right-calf injury -- will be able to return on Friday.Johan Camargo, who has started seven of the last eight games, filled in for Donaldson on Thursday in an 11-2 loss to the San Diego Padres.The Braves, who won the NL East last year, are off to a mediocre start in 2019: 10-10 at home, 5-6 on the road and minus-one in run differential.Last-place Miami has a minus-59 run differential and is just 6-12 at home.Both teams are 4-6 in their past 10 games.--Field Level Media
Looking for More Picks?
You can browse all the individual handicapper picks below.
Atlanta Braves
Miami Marlins
Pick Center
MLB
FINAL (5/3/2019)
TomBartonSports
