The Atlanta Braves wrap up their road trip in South Florida with a 3:10 PM ET first pitch at loanDepot park on Sunday, September 27, facing the Miami Marlins in what shapes up as a battle of young arms. Right-hander JR Ritchie gets the ball for Atlanta against Miami's Janson Junk. With the regular season winding down, this is a chance for the Braves to close out September on a winning note and give the coaching staff a meaningful look at a young pitcher who could factor into the organization's plans going forward.

Starting Pitchers: JR Ritchie vs. Janson Junk

JR Ritchie draws the assignment for Atlanta. The young right-hander is one of the more intriguing arms working his way through the Braves' system, and a late-season start against a Marlins club that is running out primarily younger position players gives him a legitimate opportunity to build on whatever he's put on film this season. This is the kind of start that can define a pitcher's offseason outlook — the Braves' front office will be watching closely.

Opposing him is Janson Junk, who will try to give Miami something to build on heading into the winter. Neither starter has stats listed for this contest, so the matchup is one to watch in real time. When two young starters square off in a late-season game, bullpen management often becomes the deciding factor — and both dugouts will need to be ready to move quickly if either arm runs into trouble early.

Braves Lineup to Watch at loanDepot Park

Atlanta's lineup has a familiar look at the top. Mauricio Dubón leads off in left field, followed by Ozzie Albies at second base — a combination that gives the Braves some speed and on-base ability at the top of the order. Matt Olson bats third at first base, and Austin Riley slots in fourth at third base, giving Atlanta its most experienced run-producing core in the middle of the order.

• Mike Yastrzemski serves as the designated hitter and bats fifth, adding a left-handed bat to the lineup.
• Sean Murphy catches and hits sixth — Murphy's ability to work counts and drive runners in makes him a threat even in the lower third of the order.
• Ha-Seong Kim starts at shortstop and bats seventh.
• Brewer Hicklen gets the start in right field batting eighth, with DaShawn Keirsey Jr. in center field rounding out the nine-spot.

Keys to Watch

Ritchie's Command

For a young starter in a late-season start, command is everything. If Ritchie can attack the zone and keep the Marlins' lineup off balance early, Atlanta has a real shot at a clean outing. Walks will be the enemy — a lineup full of players with something to prove can punish free passes quickly.

Olson and Riley vs. a Young Marlins Staff

Matt Olson and Austin Riley form one of the better left-right power combinations in the National League, and facing Janson Junk could be an opportunity for both veterans to do damage. Watch how Junk navigates the middle of the Atlanta order — if he struggles to put them away, the Braves could get to the bullpen early.

Miami's Lineup Construction

The Marlins are running a lineup that skews young and relatively unproven at this stage of the season. Heriberto Hernández bats third and Agustín Ramírez DHs cleanup — Atlanta's pitching staff will need to stay sharp and not take any hitter lightly, but this is a manageable group on paper.

Prediction

The Braves take this one. Ritchie gets enough length to keep Atlanta in the game, and the middle of the order — Olson, Riley, and Albies — does enough damage against Junk to put this one away by the seventh. A 5-3 Braves win to close out the weekend road trip feels right. Catch it on BravesVision or on 680 AM/93.7 FM The Fan.