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After an offseason during which the Marlins added to both their starting rotation and lineup, the club opens the season with a three game series against the Braves at Marlins Park. With Jose Fernandez out, it is Henderson Alvarez who gets the opening day nod for Miami.
Pitching Matchup
| PROJ ERA | FIP | ERA | MARLINS | Braves | ERA | FIP | PROJ ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.80 | --- | --- | Alvarez | Teheran | --- | --- | 3.22 |
Alvarez had a solid 2014 campaign, posting a 2.65 ERA and 3.58 FIP in 187.0 innings. He went 12-7 last season, and will anchor the Marlins' rotation with Fernandez not expected to return until June or July. Teheran posted a 2.89 ERA and 3.49 FIP in 221.0 innings with Atlanta last season.
Lineups
Miami will go with the lineup it used often during the final week of spring training. Gordon is in the leadoff spot, with Stanton batting third and Morse in the cleanup spot. Saltalamacchia is slotted in the seven spot, with Hechavarria batting eighth to open the season.
The middle of Atlanta's order has the potential to provide power, with Nick Markakis and Freddie Freeman batting in the three and four spots, respectively. Andrelton Simmons bats eighth for the Braves, with Christian Bethancourt behind the plate.
Notes
-How will Alvarez pitch? Miami will be seeking a quality start in his first outing of the season.
-What will the Braves look like? The club may be looking to find its identity early after another last minute trade on Sunday night.
Bold Prediction: Marlins top Braves 4-2