Braves head to Miami for quick two-game set against Marlins

The Atlanta Braves head to Miami on Monday where they will open a two-game set against the Miami Marlins. The Braves split two games in a weather shortened series over the weekend.

Atlanta emerged from the All-Star break on Friday with an 8-5 win over Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals. Saturday’s game was rained out and both teams endured over three hours of rain delays on Sunday where Washington won 6-2.

Ozzie Albies left Friday’s game early after experiencing tightness in his right hamstring. The team called his exit “precautionary” but he did not play on Sunday and it wouldn’t be terribly surprising to see him sit again in Miami with an off day on Wednesday. Charlie Culberson started in place of Albies on Sunday and finished with three hits.

Saturday’s postponement allows the Braves the opportunity to put off a decision on a fifth starter. Sean Newcomb was originally scheduled to start against the Nationals but will now face the Marlins in Monday’s series opener. That pushes Julio Teheran back an extra day to Tuesday where the team originally would have needed a fifth starter.

The Marlins had a four-game winning streak snapped on Sunday when they allowed five runs in the bottom of the ninth including a walk-off grand slam to Tampa’s Daniel Robertson. They have won seven of ten. The Braves have won 5-of-7 so far in the season series.

Monday, July 23, 7:10 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Southeast)

Sean Newcomb (19 GS, 8-5 W-L, 22.2 K%, 11.9 BB%, 3.51 ERA, 4.15 FIP, 4.34 xFIP)

Newcomb will take the ball on Monday and will be looking regain the command that he showed early in the season. After walking just 10 batters in June, Newcomb has issued 12 free passes through three starts in July. He walked the bases loaded in the first inning in his last start against the Diamondbacks but escaped the inning having only allowed one run. He would end up allowing three runs total over 5.2 innings but didn’t walk another batter in the game.

Newcomb has faced the Marlins twice this season allowing a combined five hits and one run over 12 innings.

Jose Urena (19 GS, 2-9 W-L, 19.9 K%, 6.3 BB%, 4.39 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 3.86 xFIP)

Miami will counter with right-hander Jose Urena who was the team’s Opening Day starter. Urena was hit hard in his previous start entering the break allowing four hits and five runs over just four innings against the Phillies. He has faced the Braves twice this season allowing nine hits and seven runs in 12 innings.

Tuesday, July 24, 12:10 p.m. ET (Fox Sports Southeast)

Julio Teheran (19 GS, 7-6 W-L, 22.4 K%, 11.6 BB%, 4.00 ERA, 5.07 FIP, 4.66 xFIP)

Teheran entered the break on a good note firing 6.1 shutout innings while allowing just four hits against the Diamondbacks. He has allowed seven hits and just one run while striking out 11 over his last two starts.

Teheran struggled in his only start against the Marlins this season allowing seven hits and six runs in just five innings back on May 20 in Atlanta.

Wei-Yin Chen (15 GS, 2-7 W-L, 17.6 K%, 8.8 BB%, 5.75 ERA, 4.76 FIP, 4.97 xFIP)

Wei-Yin Chen will start the series finale for Miami on Tuesday and will be looking to build off of one of his best starts of the season. Chen allowed five hits and one run in six innings while striking out a season-high eight last time out against the Phillies. He has been excellent at Marlins Park where he has a 1.83 ERA in seven starts this season.