Marlins Aim to Spoil Braves’ Sweep Plans

The Miami Marlins’ magical 2020 season might soon be coming to an end, as they face a 2-0 series deficit heading into Game 3 of their National League Division Series with the Atlanta Braves. After dropping a 9-5 decision in the series opener, the Marlins had no answer for Braves rookie Ian Anderson, who combined with four relievers on a three-hitter in Atlanta’s 2-0 Game 2 win.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Braves are the overwhelming favorite among the sportsbooks, having seen the line climb from a -171 Sportsbook to between -190 and -210 depending on where you shop; Miami is at +170 to +185. The total has remained steady at 8.5.

Starting Pitchers Analysis

The fate of the Marlins’ season rests on the electric right arm of Sixto Sanchez (3-2, 3.46 ERA in 2020), who gets the call for Game 3. Sanchez was sensational in their first-round upset of the Chicago Cubs, tossing five shutout innings while allowing just three hits. He faced the Braves twice during the regular season and was charged with four earned runs over nine innings.

The Braves counter with righty Kyle Wright (2-4, 5.21 ERA), who makes his first postseason appearance following a subpar 2020. The 25-year-old saw his ERA balloon as high as 8.05 before finishing the season strong, limiting the Red Sox and Mets to a combined two runs over his final 13 innings. He was 0-2 with a 10.29 ERA in two regular-season meetings with Miami.

Miami News & Notes

Given how the Marlins teed off on Wright during the season, they have to like their chances of extending their campaign by at least one game. He lasted just three innings in an 8-2 loss on August 14, then surrendered five runs over four sloppy innings in an 8-0 Miami win three and a half weeks later. Jorge Alfaro has had Wright’s number, going 4-for-4 with two home runs lifetime against him.

A little something from Alfaro – or anyone else, for that matter – would be a welcome sight for a Miami team that miraculously reached the postseason despite its year-long struggles at the dish. The Marlins finished with 263 runs (outscoring just four NL teams) and their minus-41 run differential was by far the worst of any team to qualify for the playoffs.

Atlanta News & Notes

One day after riding some hot bats to a slugfest victory in Game 1, the Braves relied on timely pitching dominance to move to within a win of the National League Championship Series. But they might need to ready the bullpen a little early on Thursday, with Wright posting an unsightly 1.55 WHIP during the regular season while averaging fewer than five innings over his eight starts.

DFS players might be a bit squeamish to plug Ronald Acuna Jr. into their Thursday lineups given his exorbitant price tag and the fact that he laid a giant egg in Game 2, going 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in the win. But of the 10 times he struck out three or more times during the regular season, he homered in the following game on five occasions – so don’t be afraid to pay for a bounce-back.

Betting Pick: Miami (+180)

A meeting with Wright should get the Marlins’ bats going; they’re by no means a sure thing to extend this series, but with a slight edge in the starting pitching matchup, we’ll happily take them at this price.