Braves Aim to Stay Hot Against Marlins' Pérez

Atlanta looks to continue its historic start against Miami's young flamethrower

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:53pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins, with the players and field broken down into overlapping planes of vibrant colors.The Braves and Marlins clash in an early-season NL East showdown, with both teams looking to gain an edge in the divisional race.Atlanta Today

The Atlanta Braves, off to a historically hot start, host the Miami Marlins in the first of a three-game series on Monday night. Atlanta will send Grant Holmes to the mound against Miami's Eury Pérez, a young flamethrower looking to regain his rookie form.

Why it matters

This matchup pits two of the NL East's top teams against each other early in the season. The Braves have been one of the league's most dominant teams so far, while the Marlins are looking to bounce back after a recent sweep. The outcome of this series could have major implications on the divisional race.

The details

The Braves' hot start has been fueled by an elite pitching staff and the return to health of 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. They'll look to continue that success against Pérez, a hard-throwing righty for the Marlins who has struggled to live up to his potential so far in his young career. Atlanta's deep lineup and strong defense should provide a tough test for Pérez, who has had issues with control and allowing hard contact.

  • The game is scheduled for Monday, April 13, 2026 at 7:15 p.m. ET.
  • The Braves are coming off a 13-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.

The players

Grant Holmes

The Braves' starting pitcher, who has a 2.55 ERA through his first three starts of the season.

Eury Pérez

The Marlins' starting pitcher, a 22-year-old flamethrower who is looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2025 season.

Ronald Acuña Jr.

The Braves' star outfielder and 2023 NL MVP, who has been a key part of the team's hot start.

Drake Baldwin

The Braves' slugging first baseman, who leads the majors in both runs and RBIs so far this season.

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What they’re saying

“Pérez's four-seam fastball is even faster as it was last season, and he still generates whiffs and strikeouts at an elite rate, but when damage comes, it comes in droves: he ranks in just the eighth percentile in barrel rate.”

— Griffin Wong, Writer

“The Braves do chase a lot, but they've also recorded barrels at the third-highest rate this season after finishing a solid 11th in that stat in 2025.”

— Griffin Wong, Writer

What’s next

The Braves and Marlins will continue their three-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

The takeaway

This matchup between two of the NL East's top teams early in the season could provide valuable insight into the divisional race. The Braves' hot start has been fueled by their elite pitching and offense, while the Marlins are looking to bounce back after a recent sweep. The outcome of this series could have major implications on the standings going forward.