Miami Marlins second baseman Xavier Edwards, batting above .300, looks to continue his impressive performance as the Marlins host the Atlanta Braves for a doubleheader on Saturday. Edwards’ hot hitting Marlins efforts come as Miami aims to build momentum and push closer to a playoff position.
The Marlins gained ground with a 5-1 victory on Friday, leveling the series and narrowing the gap to just one game below .500. They currently trail by 5 1/2 games in the National League wild-card race. Meanwhile, the Braves remain out of postseason contention and have struggled recently, losing 12 of their last 16 games.
Edwards’ recent surge boosts Miami’s offensive edge
Edwards has made a notable impact in this series, going 5-for-10 in the first two matchups to raise his batting average to .303, a significant jump from .252 on May 7. Since June 22, he has recorded 55 hits, the highest total in the National League this season. This surge reflects his growing influence on the field as Miami strives for success.
You go into spring with goals and you get punched in a mouth a little bit and stuff doesn’t go your way, but you figure out how to crawl out of it and get back to playing winning baseball,
Edwards said.
I’m glad I’ve kind of turned the season around a bit for me and just help our team win as many games as we can.
—Xavier Edwards, Second Baseman, Miami Marlins
Saturday’s doubleheader stems from earlier rainout leading to pitching showdown
The doubleheader on Saturday follows a rainout originally scheduled for April 6. The first game will showcase two rookie pitchers facing off: Atlanta’s Hurston Waldrep, holding a 1-0 record with a 1.59 ERA, will pitch against Miami’s Ryan Gusto, who carries a 7-4 record and a 4.92 ERA. The evening game will feature veteran starters Erick Fedde for the Braves, who is 3-12 with a 5.32 ERA, opposing Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins, who is 6-10 with a 6.44 ERA.
Rookie Hurston Waldrep aims to build on impressive major league debut
Waldrep was recently called up from Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday and made a remarkable appearance in the suspended game against the Cincinnati Reds. Entering with one out in the first inning, he delivered 5 2/3 solid innings, allowing just one run on three hits to secure his first major league win.
Atlanta manager Brian Snitker praised Waldrep’s performance, saying,
“I’m glad we had him ready. That was huge. He was ready and on regular rest. … Love to see him piggyback on that and stay up here and finish the year here. That would be great.”
—Brian Snitker, Atlanta Braves Manager
Ryan Gusto set to debut for Marlins in crucial matchup
Ryan Gusto will make his first start for Miami following a trade from the Houston Astros on July 31. Gusto joins the Marlins along with two minor-leaguers in exchange for outfielder Jesus Sanchez. His last outing with Houston was strong, pitching six innings while allowing only one run against the Washington Nationals on July 30. This will be his first appearance against the Braves.
Sandy Alcantara faces challenges after recent inconsistent performances
Veteran starter Sandy Alcantara had shown signs of regaining form in late July with two strong outings, securing wins over the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals while allowing one unearned run across 12 innings. However, on Monday, he struggled against the Houston Astros, conceding six runs on nine hits in a 7-inning, 8-2 loss.
Couple hard contact, couple soft contact balls and it seemed like they came out ready for all the breaking balls that I was throwing,
Alcantara said. —Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins Pitcher
Alcantara has a favorable record against Atlanta in his career, with 5 wins and 4 losses over 14 starts, maintaining a 3.05 ERA. He most recently defeated the Braves on June 22, allowing three runs in six innings.
Erick Fedde seeks to improve record against Marlins
Erick Fedde, who was acquired by the Braves prior to the trade deadline, will start the second game for Atlanta. His current record with the Braves is 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA, including his last start where he allowed three runs over 5 1/3 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers. Historically, Fedde has succeeded against Miami, boasting a 4-2 record and a 2.64 ERA in 11 career starts, though he hasn’t faced the Marlins since 2022.
Implications and expectations for the outcome of the doubleheader
The Marlins hope to capitalize on Xavier Edwards hot hitting Marlins trend, using this momentum to close the gap in the wild-card race while pushing to a return to .500. For Atlanta, the doubleheader represents a critical chance to end a long slump, although recent performances suggest it will be a challenging battle. The rookie pitchers’ duels and veteran starters’ efforts could significantly influence the playoff outlook for both teams as the season enters its vital stretch.