The Marlins will look to extend the series one more day after falling behind two games to none. Five Braves pitchers combined for a shutout, led by Ian Anderson, as they surrendered only three hits in a 2-0 victory. The bullpen went 3 ⅓ innings allowing only one baserunner on a walk.
Travis d’Arnaud and Dansby Swanson homered to provide the only offense Atlanta would need. Marlins pitchers held their own, only allowing four hits on the day and the two solo homers. The two teams combined for 21 strikeouts and only one walk.
Braves Look to Stamp Ticket to NLCS
Atlanta will look to advance to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2001, which was also the last time the team won a playoff series. Things look like they are heading for a showdown between the 1st seeded Dodgers and 2nd seeded Braves as both teams have jumped out to commanding 2-0 leads.
Kyle Wright will be making his playoff debut Thursday afternoon. Wright was 2-4, with a 5.41 ERA and a 1.55 WHIP in the regular season. Wright struggled with command as he walked 24 batters in 38 innings.
Wright struggled against Miami. The Braves lost both games he started, 8-2 and 8-0, going only seven innings, allowing nine hits, eight runs, and three home runs. Wright is 0-2 with a 6.92 ERA in three starts against the Marlins.
Atlanta got to see Marlins’ fireballer, Sixto Sanchez, in the regular season. Braves hitters struggled as they managed only five hits in 27 at-bats while the striking out six times.
But they were better the second time they faced him, scoring four runs in three innings. Freddie Freeman was the only Braves hitter with an extra-base hit off of him, hitting a double.
d’Arnaud has been the Braves’ best hitter this postseason. He has two home runs and an OPS of 1.337. Swanson also has two home runs in the Braves 4-0 start to the playoffs.
Marlins Need Sanchez to Extend Series
Miami needs a win, and they have to feel good about sending Sanchez to the mound. The rookie right-hander did not give up a run against the Cubs in the wild card round, going five innings, allowing four hits, and striking out six.
Sanchez struggled a little down the stretch, but still put up good numbers in the regular season. He had a record of 3-2 with an ERA of 3.46 and a WHIP of 1.21.
Marlins hitters have had their way with Wright. They have combined for an OPS of 1.292 in 34 plate appearances. Jorge Alfaro, Garrett Cooper, and Matt Joyce all have at least one home run off of Wright and at least an OPS of 2.417.
The Miami bats have been quiet in the postseason. The team has combined for an OPS of only .598. Cooper leads the regulars with an OPS of only .761.
Braves/Marlins Betting Lines
Fanduel has the Braves as the favorite at -148 and the Marlins at +128. The total is set at 8.5 runs.
Free Betting Pick
With the Marlins success against Wright, I thought the Marlins would be small favorites in this game. Atlanta did have success against Sanchez the last time they faced him, but they did a lot of their damage in one inning.
I think Sanchez gives Miami at least five solid innings, and the bullpen does the rest. Cooper has a big day as the Marlins survive to play again on Friday.
Free Pick: Marlins +128
