Miami MarlinsMiami Marlins vs. Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves Pick Center

Bet Now
Time: 07:10 P.M. EST Venue: Turner Field   ATLANTA -- A team coming off a two-game sweep in which it was outscored 17-6 would normally love to be facing an opponent next with the worst record in the National League. The Miami Marlins, though, are the one team the Atlanta Braves have a winning record against this season. Atlanta (26-52) started the season 4-17 and three of those victories were against the Marlins, who would eventually lose two more games to the Braves before winning two of the past three. That is almost as bad as the Marlins (41-37) have done against the Tigers, who won 10-3 Wednesday in Detroit to finish the interleague matchup 0-4. The Tigers also swept a two-game series in Miami to open the season. At least Miami won't have to face Braves ace Julio Teheran on Thursday night in the opener of the four-game series that will move from Turner Field to Fort Bragg in North Carolina for Sunday's patriotic finale. Teheran, who has a streak of 23 consecutive scoreless innings, will get an extra day of rest before facing the Marlins on Friday." We've been extending him pretty good, so it's good to give him an extra day any time we can," Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. Teheran pitched a one-hit shutout in New York, then followed that up with eight scoreless innings in a no-decision against the same Mets in Atlanta last Saturday. The right-hander is just 3-7, but has a 2.46 ERA. Mike Foltynewicz will cut short his minor league rehab with Triple-A Gwinnett after one outing and start the series opener against the Marlins." He's healthy and feeling good," Snitker said. The right-hander has been on the disabled list June 4 because of what was later diagnosed as bone spurs in his pitching elbow. Foltynewicz allowed just one hit, walked none and struck out five over five scoreless innings Saturday against Charlotte, throwing 65 pitches." It felt better than I thought it would," Foltynewicz said of his elbow. "All the doctors say it is no structural damage in there. That puts me at ease of mind." Foltynewicz has made six major league starts this season, going 2-2 with a 3.51 ERA. Marlins manager Don Mattingly juggled his rotation Wednesday in Detroit and it didn't pay off. Right-hander Tom Kohler started instead of left-hander Wei-Yin Chen against the Tigers, but gave up four runs in a 46-pitch first inning and was gone after the third inning." It's really a chance to give (Chen) a little bit of a breather, but Atlanta is just stacked with lefties and these guys (the Tigers) are stacked with righties," Mattingly had told reporters in explaining the switch. Chen was the Marlins' Opening Day starter at home against Detroit, but has struggled to live up to expectations after getting a five-year deal worth $80 million as a free agent. Chen, who is 4-2 with a 5.00 ERA, couldn't get out of the third inning two starts ago against Colorado, but bounced back with seven innings against the Chicago Cubs in his most recent outing. The native of Taiwan will be making his third start of the season against the Braves after posting a 2.38 ERA in a pair of no-decisions in games the Marlins lost. Chen faced the Braves once in interleague play while with Baltimore, pitching seven scoreless innings in a victory. Miami outfielder Ichiro Suzuki comes into the series 12 hits short of 3,000 in the majors after getting two singles in each of the games at Detroit. The 42-year-old former star in Japan is batting .342. The Marlins lost by seven runs Wednesday despite getting 14 hits. Third baseman Martin Prado had four of them to lift his average to .316." I'm disappointed," Mattingly told reporters after the sweep in Detroit. "But there is no time for that. We have to go play. That's basically how we have to look at it, get moving." Atlanta swept in a three-game interleague series by Cleveland, which ran its winning streak to 12 games Wednesday night. The Braves are 11-32 at home this season.

Looking for More Picks?

You can browse all the individual handicapper picks below.

FullCardSweep.com

Latest MLB News

docsports.com
RocSheridan.com