The 2020 MLB Playoffs continue Wednesday, October 7, with the Division Series including Game 2 between the two NL East foes, as the Miami Marlins take on the Atlanta Braves at Minute Maid Park in Houston.
The Braves won the opener 9-5 on Tuesday and will look to extend their lead, but the 2020 Miami Marlins have shown many times this season they are a very tough rival to beat.
We should see a great battle in the second contest of this best-of-five series, so we’ve prepared the best betting tips and trends for the Marlins versus Braves showdown along with our top betting pick.
The Line
The Braves opened as -180 favorites on BetAmerica, but after a win in Game 1, Atlanta sits at -195 moneyline odds. The Marlins are +180 underdogs with a total of 8.5 runs on DraftKings.
Injuries/Suspensions
Atlanta entered the postseason without a couple of aces, as Mike Soroka and Cole Hamels suffered season-ending injuries. At least, the Braves’ offense looks healthy and ready to roll.
On the other side, the Marlins lost a few relievers during the regular season along with two starters in Jose Urena and Elieser Hernandez.
What’s at Stake?
The Braves have a chance to get one step away from the Championship Series. Interestingly, the Braves have lost their last eight Division Series, so they must be keen to end a drought.
The Marlins could be in big trouble if they suffer another loss. Miami is only 8-22 in its last 30 meetings with Atlanta, failing to tally three straight wins in that span.
The Spot
The Braves satisfied the odds as -210 favorites in the opener, but they trailed 4-1 in the middle of the third and 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh when Travis d’Arnaud and Dansby Swanson hit a home run each.
The Marlins will have to blame their pitching staff. They used three guys in relief of Sandy Alcantara who was charged with a loss. On the other side, the Braves used five relievers in the opener after Max Fried yielded four earned runs in four innings of work.
The Matchup
The Braves hit three home runs in Game 1, two more than the Marlins. Ronald Acuna hit a solo homer for the Braves in the first inning, as well as Miguel Rojas did for the Marlins in the second.
However, Swanson and d’Arnaud combined for 5 RBI with their pair of homers, proving that Atlanta’s offense is a crucial factor in this matchup.
During the regular season, the Braves hit 43 home runs more than the Marlins (103-60). Atlanta had the second-highest scoring offense in the majors, tallying 5.80 runs per contest, while the Marlins were 21st with 4.38 runs per game.
Pablo Lopez will take the mound for the Marlins in Game 2 and try to slow down the Braves’ furious offense. The righty was 2-1 in three starts against the Braves this past regular season, and he did a great job on two occasions, but he was also beaten up in Atlanta’s 29-9 victory over Miami.
On the other side, rookie Ian Anderson will toe the slab for the Braves. The righty went 0-1 in two starts against Miami during the regular season, allowing five runs on nine hits in 8.2 frames of work.
While Lopez will make his playoff debut Wednesday, Anderson impressed in his first postseason outing last week. Ian tossed six shutout innings while yielding just a pair of hits and walks in a 5-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
The Bets
The Braves have dominated the Marlins lately, winning five of their last seven encounters and 11 of the previous 15. Considering their mighty offense, the Braves should beat the Miami once more, although the Marlins certainly stand a chance if they avoid jams.
Pitching will be key for Miami, but I have to back the Braves to win. Pablo Lopez has some staff to battle with Atlanta’s lineup, but he could easily struggle, too. In that 29-9 defeat back in September, Pablo yielded seven earned runs in just 1.2 innings of work.
