Pitching Probables:
RHP Tom Koehler (MIA) 1-5, 4.78 ERA
RHP Kris Medlen (ATL) 5-7, 3.02 ERA
Tonight's Starting Lineups (7:10 pm ET, SportSouth):
Marlins (career vs. Medlen)
Juan Pierre - LF (1-5)
Placido Polanco - 3B (5-8, 2B)
Giancarlo Stanton - RF (1-8, HR, RBI, 2 K)
Logan Morrison - 1B (0-1)
Marcell Ozuna - CF (N/A)
Derek Dietrich - 2B (N/A)
Adeiny Hechavarria - SS (0-3)
Rob Brantly - C (1-7, 2B, RBI, BB)
Tom Koehler - P (N/A)
Braves (2013 season stats):
Andrelton Simmons - SS (.240/.278/.331 6 HR 23 RBI)
Jason Heyward - RF (.231/.329/.373 6 HR 17 RBI)
Justin Upton - LF (.245/.335/.447 15 HR 37 RBI)
Freddie Freeman - 1B (.307/.384/.470 9 HR 53 RBI)
Brian McCann - C (.250/.352/.478 9 HR 24 RBI)
Dan Uggla - 2B (.205/.330/.413 14 HR 32 RBI)
BJ Upton - CF (.177/.278/.317 8 HR 19 RBI)
Chris Johnson - 3B (.323/.370/.465 5 HR 23 RBI)
Kris Medlen - P (.120/.185/.240 1 HR 1 RBI)
Preview:
As the calendar flips from June to July, the Marlins find themselves as healthy as they have been all season and also are in the midst of their hottest stretch of the season.
Miami has won six of its last seven games, but will face a difficult task on Tuesday when the club opens a three-game series against the well-rested, NL East-leading Braves at Turner Field.
Braves off day on Monday marked the third off day in a span of a week. They had an off day last Monday when they split a two-game set with the Royals in Kansas City as well as an off day on Thursday, prior to sweeping the Diamondbacks this past weekend.
Braves will try to win their fourth in a row tonight, and fourth in as many tries against the Marlins this season, when they send Kris Medlen to the hill in the series opener opposite Marlins' starter, Tom Koehler.
Medlen looks to continue his own hot streak, winning four of his last five starts after starting the season 1-6. Despite the 5-7 record, Medlen has limited the opposition to three earned runs or fewer in all but two of his 16 starts in 2013 and sports a solid ERA of 3.02.
Tom Koehler, has pitched better than his 1-5 record indicates as well. Koehler was inserted into the rotation on May 12 and proceeded to go winless in his first six starts despite turning in four quality starts. He picked up his first MLB win on June 20, when he pitched seven innings of impressive ball, allowing only a run on three hits, walked three, and struck out three against the Giants. In his last start against the Twins, Koehler allowed three runs on four hits and also walked four batters while striking out one in just four innings as he took the no decision. Koehler conceded all three runs in the first inning before battling his way through the next three frames in the eventual 5-3 Marlins win.
Marlins rotation getting healthy:
Marlins manager Mike Redmond announced that starter Henderson Alvarez will return to the rotation on Thursday. Alvarez, who was acquired from the Blue Jays last November as part of the 12-player blockbuster trade, has spent the entire season on the disabled list with right shoulder inflammation. Rotation is begging to take shape with Alvarez/s season debut on Thursday as well as the recent return of Nathan Eovaldi. Alvarez will follow Ricky Nolasco, who is expected to pitch Wednesday despite prominent trade rumors, giving the Marlins a six-man rotation.
Injury updates on Schafer, Gattis:
Braves OF Jordan Schafer is still feeling tenderness in his right ankle, after fouling a ball off the ankle last Wednesday in Kansas City. Fredi Gonzalez hopes Schafer will be available soon after Monday's day off.
As for Evan Gattis, the slugger resumed baseball activities, but the Braves have no timetable for his return. Gattis injured the oblique in the seventh inning of the June 17th game against the Mets when he fouled off a pitch and immediately felt discomfort.
Side note:
Kris Medlen is 3-1 with a 2.42 ERA in 16 career games (six starts) against the Marlins.
Braves, winners of each of the last three season series against the Marlins, swept the first and only series between the two clubs earlier this season. Atlanta is 40-17 against Miami since the beginning of the 2010 season.
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