ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) – The Atlanta Braves held the Miami Marlins hitless until the seventh inning in Friday’s 7-2 Grapefruit League win. The performance highlighted the team’s depth in the starting pitcher competition, providing a glimpse of the talent they’ll have to work with as spring — and eventually the regular season — goes on.

The game was the second of 10 Braves games broadcast live on Gray this spring.

Ian Anderson, Grant Holmes fight for rotation spot

Anderson and Holmes both pitched three hitless innings in Friday’s win, with the former having a rebound start after a tough outing last week.

Anderson looked like his 2021 self out there, cruising past Marlins hitters as his fastball averaged 93.6 mph and touched 94.9 mph. Holmes struck out three.

Both right-handers are fighting for a starting rotation spot as ace Spencer Strider rehabs from an elbow injury. Current rotation projections are as follows: Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Spencer Schwellenbach and Anderson, Holmes and A.J. Smith-Shawver fighting for the last two open spots.

READ MORE: Ian Anderson shines vs. Marlins as he battles for starting rotation spot

Drake Baldwin records 3 hits, 2 RBIs vs. Marlins

Braves top prospect Drake Baldwin recorded three hits including two RBI singles as a designated hitter in Friday’s game against Miami. He also recorded a walk in the eighth inning.

Baldwin is clearly ready for the Major League level, reaching Triple-A in 2024 and slashed .298/.407/.484 in 72 games with the Gwinnett Stripers. He has displayed strong offense all throughout his minor league tenure, particularly to opposite field, as shown on Friday when all three of his hits went to the left of second base.

With Sean Murphy — who’s in his second season of his six-year, $73 million contract — leading the way at catcher, Baldwin’s path to the majors is somewhat roadblocked. He could make the major league roster as a backup catcher option, but he wouldn’t play every day which could stunt his development.

If certain sluggers — say… Marcell Ozuna — go down with an injury sometime throughout the season, fans could see Baldwin called up to serve as a designated hitter role.

Only time will tell to see what Atlanta does with the 23-year-old.

Sean Murphy remains hitless in spring

Murphy was the only major league mainstay in the Braves lineup on Friday and he looked pretty similar to his 2024 self. The 30-year-old struck out in his first two plate appearances, the second with bases loaded, and got on base twice on a hit by pitch and a walk.

Murphy is now 0-6 with three strikeouts this spring. He’s in the second year of that six-year, $73 million contract that looked good prior to an oblique injury suffered in his first game of the 2024 season. Murphy missed two months and never looked quite right after that, slashing .193/.284/.352 with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs in 72 games.

Up next

Atlanta next hosts the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida.

The next Braves on Gray broadcast is Thursday, March 6, at 6:05 p.m. when they take on the Marlins once again.

Fans can watch the Braves on Gray by tuning into PeachtreeTV, Atlanta’s CW Network. Fans can also watch games on YouTube TV, over the air on channel 17.1 and on channel 17 on Dish Network and DirecTV and channel 7 on Xfinity and Spectrum.

If you are in another market outside of Atlanta, click here to see how you can catch the action.