MIA 4, ATL 16: Braves blast off early and often

MLB's hottest team set a new season-high in runs scored to further assert their NL East supremacy.

Bryan Hoeing had a shaky outing at Truist Park in his 2023 Miami Marlins debut on April 25. He returned Friday night as a full-fledged major league starter, but struggled to an even greater extent against an All-Star-studded Atlanta Braves lineup. Miami's bullpen didn't fare much better in the 16-4 loss.

The quality of Hoeing's stuff simply wasn't what it needed to be. His best pitch this season, the slider, generated only one whiff and lacked its usual late break. In four career appearances against the Braves (9.2 IP), his lifetime earned run average is 13.03.

The Marlins initially showed some resiliency. After falling behind 5-0, Jesús Sánchez and Jorge Soler both homered in the top of the third, narrowing the deficit to 5-3.

However, Hoeing yielded two more runs in the bottom of the frame. Then, mop-up man Archie Bradley was equally ineffective (2.1 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 2 HR). Despite this deflating performance, expect Hoeing to remain in the Marlins rotation and face the St. Louis Cardinals next series.

Jacob Stallings (left ankle soreness) exited the game in the fifth inning, aggravating an injury that he says he initially suffered against the Pittsburgh Pirates last week. Seems to be a day-to-day issue for now. He's supposed to start again on Sunday afternoon as Sandy Alcantara's battery mate—Alcantara has pitched to Stallings exclusively dating back to the start of the 2022 season.

Marlins rookie right-hander Eury Pérez will make his 10th MLB start on Saturday. Charlie Morton, who's nearly twice his age, will toe the rubber for Atlanta. Morton has 12 career wins against the Fish, his highest total against any team. The 39-year-old's first pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET.

Photo courtesy of Atlanta Braves