ATLANTA vs. MIAMI 8/26/2018 MLB Odds, Pick & Preview

Brian Anderson may be the forgotten man when it comes to the National League Rookie-of-the-Year race, but the Miami Marlins outfielder is making his mark entering the finale of a four-game home series Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. Anderson came off the bench to blast a two-run, pinch-hit homer in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over the NL East-leading Braves, who blew a chance to gain ground on Philadelphia and Washington by scoring only on a Dansby Swanson homer.

Anderson’s homer, his 10th of the season and first since July 30, raised his average to .279 with a .765 OPS while pushing the Marlins to a second consecutive victory over an Atlanta team that had won 13-of-16 meetings with Miami before Friday. The Braves offense has faltered in back-to-back losses, finishing with just 12 hits while leaving 14 runners on base in the two defeats, and enters Sunday having scored just one run in the past 22 innings in the series. Outfielder Ronald Acuna, one of the frontrunners for Rookie of the Year honors along with Washington outfielder Juan Soto, finished with two hits Saturday and is hitting .338 with 12 extra-base hits in 18 games against Miami this season. Sunday marks the 22nd game in 20 days for the Braves, who will enjoy Monday off and have a three-game lead over Philadelphia with an 8 1/2-game advantage over Washington in the NL East race.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Kevin Gausman (8-9, 3.99 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (2-3, 4.42)

Gausman has won his last three starts after losing his Atlanta debut, giving up three runs with four walks and 15 strikeouts in 22 innings and holding opponents to a .179 batting average. The 27-year-old, who went 5-8 with a 4.43 ERA with Baltimore before being acquired at the trade deadline, pitched eight shutout innings Tuesday at Pittsburgh with four hits allowed and five strikeouts. Gausman gave up two runs on four hits across six frames in a victory over Miami on Aug. 15.

Lopez struggled at times through his first five starts, but has posted a 3.33 ERA and 1.07 WHIP while going 0-1 in four starts during August. The 22-year-old rookie pitched well in a no-decision Tuesday against the New York Yankees, giving up one run on seven hits with four strikeouts over six innings. Lopez has allowed two runs or fewer in three of four outings this month, the one exception Aug. 13 in Atlanta when he surrendered five earned runs across 5 1/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta RHP Anibal Sanchez, who was left in the game Saturday to hit in the top of the sixth with two runners on despite not having a hit all season, left in the bottom half of the inning with right hamstring tightness.

2. Marlins C J.T. Realmuto snapped a 0-for-17 skid with a bloop single in the first inning Saturday.

3. Braves C Kurt Suzuki, who missed the past three games with a bruised left triceps, finished 2-for-4 Saturday.

PREDICTION: Braves 4, Marlins 2