Braves 9, Marlins 3: Harris Homers Twice as Strider Fans Nine in Miami

The lead

May 21, 2026 - Miami - The Atlanta Braves took three of four at loanDepot park with a 9-3 win over the Miami Marlins, as Michael Harris II homered twice, Mike Yastrzemski also went deep, and Spencer Strider struck out nine in 6⅓ innings, per the Associated Press recap on CBS Sports.

Harris finished the series with three homers and six hits. Strider allowed three solo homers—to Owen Caissie and a pair from Kyle Stowers—but still picked up his second win of 2026 as Atlanta notched its 14th series win in 16 tries.

How the game turned

Atlanta jumped ahead 2-0 in the first when Ronald Acuña Jr. singled and scored on Harris' 389-foot shot to right-center—his 10th homer of the season. Yastrzemski's 418-foot drive in the second made it 3-0.

Acuña added an RBI single for 5-2 in the fifth before exiting in the sixth as a precaution with left thumb pain; Eli White replaced him in right. Yastrzemski doubled home a run in the sixth, and Mauricio Dubón's two-run pinch single in the eighth off Cade Gibson padded the lead after Ozzie Albies was hit by a pitch.

Pitching and matchup notes

Sandy Alcantara (3-3) allowed six runs on nine hits over six innings. Strider walked two and surrendered the three solo shots but kept Miami from stacking traffic.

AthX Engine graded Atlanta at 18 team FP—top on the short Thursday card—with Harris at 12 hitting FP and Yastrzemski at 11. Strider posted 13.33 pitching FP.

Bats that changed the board

Dominic Smith, a day after a three-run homer, singled and doubled. Ha-Seong Kim added a single, walk, and steal. Stowers homered in the fourth and seventh for Miami's only runs of consequence.

AthX Engine fantasy angle

Multi-homer nights from two outfielders plus a nine-K starter is the AthX Engine template for 18 team FP on a seven-game slate—spread production without needing a single 20 FP bat. Daily scoring remains separate from dynamic pricing.

What comes next

The Braves head home against Washington; Miami hosts the Mets, per AP's probables.

*Sources: MLB.com schedule, MLB gameday wrap, CBS Sports recap, AthX Engine scoring. Information only; not financial advice.*