Miami hung with the NL East big boys on a just completed road trip going 3-2 against division opponents Washington and New York. Now the Marlins have a chance to build off that stretch when they host the Braves, who are off to their worst start since 1988.
You can bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
ODDS ANALYSIS
After ditching all their assets over the past few seasons, the Braves were expected to have a tough time this year, and they haven’t disappointed. A 3-0 loss Wednesday night to the Nationals left the Braves as the only winless team in the NL and they are off to their worst start since opening the 1988 season with 10 straight losses.
The schedule eases a bit with a three-game set against the Marlins. Atlanta opened the year with six games against NL East foe Washington and a three-game series with St. Louis, two teams widely considered playoff contenders. The Marlins are not, and, even though the series is on the road, Atlanta could string some victories together before heading home for eight consecutive games.
PROBABLE PITCHERS
Atlanta’s Bud Norris (0-2, 6.00 ERA) took the loss Monday against the Nationals allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings. He did strike out four, but the Nats made solid contact against him. Norris has had the rough draw of getting Washington twice in his first two starts and had a quality outing the first time out.
Norris will be making his second career start at Marlins Park and has faced Miami five times going 1-1 with a 6.18 ERA over 27.2 innings.
Tom Koehler (0-1, 2.84 ERA) took the loss Sunday, allowing two runs on eight hits and four walks over 6.1 innings. His line wasn’t too bad, especially considering his recent struggles against the Nationals. He should have a better matchup when facing the Braves.
Koehler posted a 2-2 record with a 3.67 ERA in five appearances – four starts – last season against the Braves, but control was an issue with 16 walks in 27.0 innings pitched.
LIVE BETTING
One could easily argue that the Braves could have won at least five games during their 0-8 start. But in the process of doing so, it’s easy to see why this eight-game stretch has been so troubling. The bullpen has surrendered 20 earned runs over 24.2 innings during that span and manager Fredi Gonzalez will continue to tinker with his relievers, who suffered a big loss when Daniel Winkler fractured his right elbow on Sunday. The Braves held a lead in the seventh inning or later during four of their first five games, and they wasted the four runs scored off Max Scherzer during the first inning of Monday’s loss to the Nats. The pen has combined to go 0-4 with a 7.30 ERA while blowing three save chances.
QUICK PICK
The Braves committed to a rebuild and now they are paying the price. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s very dim right now. Management knows that success doesn’t come overnight and many of the players currently in a Braves uniform won’t be around when the club turns the corner. In the meantime the losses will continue to pile up as the offense struggles to produce runs and the bullpen coughs up leads in the rare instance the Braves actually gets one. The good news is that Atlanta won’t lose every game and a series with Florida is an opportunity to get a few wins. But the offense is struggling to score runs and the bullpen is a disaster right now. Koehler won’t be mistaken for Cy Young, but he’s crafty enough to shut down the Braves.
MLB Odds: Miami 7, Atlanta 3
Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform.
Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The ballgame pitting the Atlanta Braves versus the Miami Marlins will commence Saturday, April 16, 2016, at 7:10 p.m. ET at Marlins Park. The contest will be televised nationally on FS1.
