The Atlanta Braves begin a four-game National League East road series against the Miami Marlins on Monday, May 18, 2026, at loanDepot Park, featuring a pitching matchup between rookie JR Ritchie and Miami’s Max Meyer.
Atlanta enters the contest following a 4-2 homestand where the team secured consecutive series victories. The Braves currently possess a 24-23 record, placing them one game ahead of the 23-24 Washington Nationals and trailing the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies, according to data from AJC.
Ritchie earns the starting nod for Atlanta after pitching 4.1 innings in his previous outing. The rookie has struggled with walks and bullpen depth constraints over his first four starts this season, though he has successfully limited hard contact against opposing batters.
The Marlins counter with Meyer, a former 2020 number three overall draft pick who relies heavily on a high-velocity slider and an improved sweeper. Meyer has recorded a 78th percentile strikeout rate and a 55th percentile walk rate during his recent stretch of production, as reported by Battery Power.
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Statistical metrics from AJC highlight Atlanta’s performance, with the team ranking highly across major MLB categories. The Braves possess a .265 batting average, a .772 OPS, a 2.94 ERA, and a 1.13 WHIP while scoring 424 runs and maintaining a plus-98 run differential.
The game is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast on BravesVision and Gray TV, with radio coverage provided by 680 AM and 93.7 FM The Fan.
