Marlins Try To Avoid Opening Sweep Against Braves
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – It's been a rough start to the season for the Miami Marlins, but their opponent is riding a different kind of wave.
The Atlanta Braves are on the verge of their best start to a season in eight years, and they can do it with several new faces available.
Recently acquired Cameron Maybin, Jonny Gomes and A.J. Pierzynski are expected to be in the lineup as the Braves go for a sweep of this three-game series with the Marlins on Wednesday night.
Atlanta (2-0) is in position to open 3-0 for the first time since 2007 after pounding Miami 12-2 on Tuesday.
Although the Braves collected 14 hits and went 9 for 16 with runners in scoring position, they're expected to have several new bats in the lineup.
Maybin was acquired in the Craig Kimbrel trade with San Diego on Sunday, and he's expected to start in center and may lead off. He had a two-run single in the ninth Tuesday for his first hit in three at-bats with Atlanta.
He hit .235 with 15 RBIs and 24 runs in 95 games with the Padres last year.
Gomes was signed to a one-year deal after spending last season with Oakland. The left fielder grounded out as a pinch-hitter in his Braves debut Tuesday, while Pierzynski is scheduled to make his in the series finale.
The 38-year-old catcher hit .251 in 102 games with Boston and St. Louis last year.
The Braves may be wise to keep Freddie Freeman in the lineup after he doubled twice and finished with three hits and two RBIs Tuesday. The first baseman has four hits through two games, giving him a .379 average (11 for 29) in his last seven meetings with the Marlins.
Shelby Miller gets the ball for the first time since being acquired in a trade that sent Jason Heyward to St. Louis. The right-hander spent his first three seasons with the Cardinals, and went 10-9 with a 3.74 ERA last year.
He compiled a 1.69 ERA and a 2-0 record over his last six starts.
"I'm looking forward to a clean start to the season because getting traded over from St. Louis, you never really expect that," Miller told MLB's official website.
He's struggled in two career starts against the Marlins, posting a 6.97 ERA and allowing 17 hits in 10 1-3 innings.
Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is 3 for 5 with two homers against Miller.
Stanton, though, hasn't been a factor in this series, going 1 for 5 with two strikeouts. He matched his career high with three walks Tuesday, but he's 4 for 26 in his past seven games against Atlanta.
Tom Koehler takes the mound a day after Mat Latos was hammered for seven runs and was pulled with two outs in the first, the shortest outing by a Marlin in his debut.
Koehler is looking to improve upon his 10-10 record and 3.81 ERA from last year. The right-hander had a 4.20 ERA over his last five home starts, but posted a 3-1 record thanks to being backed by an average of 6.0 runs.
If spring training is any indication, Koehler may need substantial help again. He surrendered 15 runs and 27 hits in 18 innings over five preseason appearances.
Koehler is 0-2 with a 3.50 ERA in six career starts against the Braves, and he's allowed seven runs with seven walks in 12 innings while losing both at home.
"This is a team we're going to play a lot," Koehler said, "so you want to set the tone early."
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