The Atlanta Braves are set to face the Miami Marlins this evening. The Braves are looking to continue their strong form after an offensively explosive game. They are currently the only team in MLB yet to lose a series.
The Braves recently ended the Guardians’ undefeated series record.
Grant Holmes is slated to start for the Braves, while Eury Pérez is expected to pitch for the Marlins.
Holmes’ Hot Start
Grant Holmes will aim to continue his impressive start to the season against a Marlins’ offence. The Marlins are surprisingly in the top half of MLB in runs scored per game, averaging 4.38.
Holmes has maintained a 2.55 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP over 17.2 innings this season. His strikeout to walk ratio is fourteen to eight. He also boasts a 28.6 percent hard-hit rate, placing him in the top 17.0 percent of all MLB pitchers. His expected ERA (xERA) is 3.20.
Holmes’ performance dips slightly when facing hitters for the third time in a game. Opponents hit .091/.259/.227 against him the first time, .192/.222/.346 the second time, and .214/.313/.286 the third time. An OPS .598 against him the third time through is not bad at all, but it is clear that he walks hitters more in that scenario.
Only five Marlins have previously faced Holmes. Xaiver Edwards leads with seven at-bats, but has struggled to a .393 OPS. Otto Lopez and Liam Hicks each have a hit off of Holmes in two at-bats each.
Pérez’s Challenges on the Mound
Eury Pérez has had a tougher start to the season for the Marlins. Despite his fastball averaging 98.3 MPH, he has struggled to keep runs off the board.
After a promising 3.23 xERA last season, Pérez currently holds a 5.056 ERA and a 4.98 xERA. Command has been an issue, with a chase rate of only 26.4 percent. Hitters are making hard contact 42.9 percent of the time, ranking him in the bottom 35.0 percent of MLB pitchers.
No Braves hitter has more than six at-bats against Pérez. Dominic Smith and Matt Olson lead the team in at-bats and have been successful with an OPS of .833 and .762 respectively. Drake Baldwin has two home runs in four at-bats, while Albies and Acuña also have a home run against him.
Harris Returns
Michael Harris will return from paternity leave. He is likely to get the start.
The game is scheduled for 7:15 pm EDT at Truist Park.
It is interesting that the Braves and Marlins are the two teams fighting for first place after what happened last season.