Marlins-Braves Preview

ATLANTA -- Jose Fernandez's midseason visit to Turner Field was highly memorable, but only partially in a good way.

The Miami Marlins pitcher helped win a game against the Atlanta Braves with a pinch-hit, two-run double in the 12th inning, then had the worst inning of his career on the mound less than 24 hours later.

Fernandez will try for some payback against the Braves on Wednesday night when he is matched against Julio Teheran in the final game of the series.

Fernandez is coming off a 14-strikeout game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he threw seven shutout innings in a 4-1 win Friday in Miami. He is 11-2 with a 1.77 ERA at home this season as he continues to dominate at Marlins Park, but he is 3-6 with a 4.46 ERA on the road. Of course, that ERA difference is greatly inflated due to the July 2 outing against the Braves.

The young right-hander allowed a career-worst nine runs (six earned) in 5 2/3 innings, giving up a two-run homer to Freddie Freeman in the first inning and a three-run shot to Jace Peterson as part of a seven-run sixth.

"Rough day, man," Fernandez said afterward. "Baseball gets you back on your toes."

The bad outing was a stunning outliner during a season in which Fernandez is 14-8 with a 2.90 ERA and has struck out 238 (the second-highest total in the majors) in 167 1/3 innings.

Fernandez's 14 strikeouts Friday matched his career high. Three of the five times he reached that figure occurred this season.

A 7-5 victory Tuesday in Atlanta kept the Marlins' flickering wild-card hopes alive. However, they need wins from their ace almost every time out the rest of the way.

"We know how big every game is, how important they are," Fernandez said.

Fernandez is 4-2 with a 2.96 ERA in eight career starts against the Braves, but he has a no-decision and a loss this year.

Teheran also has been out of character when facing the Marlins, going 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two meetings this year. He is 5-3 with a 3.16 ERA for his career against Miami.

Overall, the Braves ace is 5-9 despite a 3.01 ERA that ranks in the National League's top 10. He is 10th, while Fernandez is eighth.

Teheran struggled in the middle of the season and had a stint on the disabled list. However, he is coming off three strong outings that included his only home victory this season. He allowed just 15 hits and four runs over 19 innings in the two victories and one no-decision.

"Everything is working like it was working at the beginning of the year," Teheran said. "Whenever I have everything, everything goes good."

Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said, "Right now, he's back where he needs to be."

The teams split the first two games of the series in the Marlins' final visit to Turner Field, and the Braves lead the season series 9-5. Atlanta will play four games at Miami in late September.