The Atlanta Braves (71-64), winners of 10 of their last 14 games, continue their attempt to chase down Washington or San Francisco for a playoff spot. Neither of those teams, however, is cooperating. Both the Nationals and the Giants won late Friday evening, meaning the Braves will have to continue playing strong baseball as they face off against the Miami Marlins (65-68) at Turner Field Saturday evening at 7:10 PM.
The Braves will start Aaron Harang (10-8, 3.60) and hope for a continuation of the greatest display of misdirection since David Copperfield made the Statue of Liberty disappear. Harang, signed as an emergency starter after Kris Medlen and Brandon Beachy were both lost to season ending injuries, has been everything the Braves could have hoped for, and then some. However, Harang has been touched up lately, going 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA in his last three starts. He also has not pitched particularly well when facing Florida this season (5.18 ERA). Giancarlo Stanton and Jarrod Saltalamacchia are a combined 11 for 23 against Harang.
The Marlins Jarred Cosart (11-8, 3.98) will take the hill against the Braves. Cosart was dealt to the Marlins by the Houston Astros in a six-player deadline deal. He is 2-1 with an ERA of 0.87 in his last three starts. No Brave has had more than three career plate appearances against Cosart, but Justin Upton has multiple hits against him.
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