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After a Big Win, the Marlins Look to Keep it Going Against Atlanta
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- After a Big Win, the Marlins Look to Keep it Going Against Atlanta
(Credit: Brad Mills | Imagn Images)
The Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins will meet Saturday afternoon at loanDepot park in a game that carries little significance in the standings but offers both clubs an opportunity to close out the season on a positive note.
For the Georgia Boys, the priority is less about the final result and more about maintaining rhythm while avoiding unnecessary wear and tear. The Braves (93-67) are already locked in the postseason as the National League East Champions, so manager Brian Snitker and his staff have little reason to push their players beyond their limits at this point.
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With that in mind, neither side will send a traditional starter to the mound on Saturday evening. Instead, it will be a pair of converted relievers, or game 'openers', as the expression has become in MLB.
Left-hander Brent Suter is scheduled to start for Atlanta and could be asked to provide several innings while the Braves navigate the absence of Martin Perez . Suter has regularly covered three innings this season and has gone as long as 3.2 innings on two occasions. A similar workload would appear to be a reasonable target Saturday, although Atlanta could allow him to continue as long as he is effective and the pitch count remains manageable.
Miami will counter with an opener of their own. Jack Ralston will start the penultimate showdown of the season. He's 0-2, with a 4.50 ERA and 17 strikeouts. The unusual pitching arrangement on both sides gives Saturday's matchup something of a spring-training feel, with innings management and keeping players healthy likely carrying more importance than the final score. So, look for the Fish to try and get three solid innings out fo Ralston today; anything more would be a big bonus.
Marlins Have Momentum
The Marlins should have plenty of momentum heading into this game, when first pitch takes place at 4:10 PM ET. Their recent play has given Fish fans plenty to cheer about, and it could provide the team with a building block for the immediate future. Especially if they can finish out the year in a similar fashion to Friday night.
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Eury Pérez delivered perhaps the finest performance of his 2026 season, shutting out Atlanta on just one hit as Miami posted a 3-0 victory. The 23-year-old right-hander finished his season on an especially impressive note, recording the first shutout of his major-league career.
The Marlins (79-81) can finish with a .500 record on the year if they can win out in this series. A sweep of the Braves, after taking two-out-of three from the Chicago Cubs , is a great way to end this season for a young team building for the future. We'll know soon if Miami can pull it off.
