Atlanta Braves at Florida Marlins

Posted on | July 24, 2006 | No Comments

At the beginning of the year, you probably would have expected a July series between the Atlanta Braves and Florida Marlins would be significant when it came to the race in the National League East.  You would not be entirely wrong with this assumption, that is if you were thinking of the race for second place.  With the New York Mets running away with the division, the Braves find themselves 12.5 games back in second place, and the Marlins 13.5 games back in third place.  The year has been a massive disappointment for both teams, though remarkably they both remain in the hunt for the NL Wildcard, despite their sub-500 record.  The two teams will begin a three game series in Florida on Tuesday.

Game one of the series will feature two young pitchers who have enjoyed some success this season.  Chuck James will go to the mound for the Braves, boasting a 4-0 record, with a 3.72 ERA.  He will be opposed by Anibal Sanchez who has gone 3-0 on the season, with a 3.41 ERA.  Sanchez is coming off back to back shutout performances in two seven inning outings.  James on the other hand has been lit up as of late, but his team has managed to support him enough to earn him two wins.  Game two will include an aging star on the mound, in John Smoltz (7-5, 3.43 ERA) versus a rookie with a bright upside, of Josh Johnson (8-5, 2.49 ERA).  Johnson has been solid this year, going at least five innings in all of his 14 starts, and only allowing three runs or less in 13 of those 14 starts.  The final game of the series will be started by two rookies, in Jason Shiell, of the Braves, and lefty, Scott Olsen of the Marlins.  Shiell was picked up by the Braves in the end of June, after the young 29 year old was shelled by the Cardinals.  Olsen is coming of a game against the Pirates in which he struck out a career high eleven batters.

Verdict:  Both teams are underperforming this year, but the Marlins look to have the advantage on the pitching rubber.  That being said, both teams are very young, and virtually anything could happen in these games.  A blowout is certainly possible for at least one of these games, especially if one of the young pitchers is unable to locate his pitches.  Look for the Marlins to win two of the three games, though in the long run I can’t see either team making a serious run towards the playoffs.

Related posts:

1. New York Mets at Atlanta Braves Game 2
2. San Francisco Giants at Florida Marlins
3. New York Mets at Atlanta Braves
4. MLB: Marlins Stay Hot
5. Florida at Pittsburgh

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