MIAMI -- The Marlins will get a change of scenery before Opening Day.

On Friday, the Marlins and Braves jointly announced that the National League East rivals will play a pair of exhibition games on July 21-22 at Truist Park in Atlanta.

“I think the more games you can play in this situation, the better,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said.

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With the regular season shortened to 60 games due to the coronavirus pandemic, facing another opponent should help the Marlins' preparation.

Both games will be televised by FOX Sports Florida and streamed live on FOX Sports GO, with announcers Paul Severino and Todd Hollandsworth broadcasting the games remotely at Marlins Park. Due to strict health-related protocols, the TV and radio announcers will not be traveling with the club. Instead, they will handle broadcast duties from Miami.

The July 21 game will start at 7 p.m. ET, and the game on July 22 will begin at 4 p.m.

The games in Atlanta will be the Marlins' final tune-ups prior to Opening Day on July 24 at the Phillies.

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Playing at Atlanta will be the first time the Marlins leave the state of Florida as a club since Spring Training started in mid-February. The trip means the Marlins will be on the road for at least five days before their home opener on July 27 against the Orioles.

The Marlins are conducting their Summer Camp at Marlins Park and at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex in Jupiter, Fla.

With two weeks until Opening Day, the Marlins are beginning to ramp up their intrasquad scrimmages. Miami played a simulated game on Thursday, and the club will continue to have pitchers face hitters in game situations.

“Obviously, playing as a group against somebody else is really what you’re trying to get to,” Mattingly said. “I think the fact we are able to get a couple of [exhibition] games is good for us, and good for them probably, too. It just gets you closer to where you need to get to.”

Hitting Harold’s new stance
Harold Ramirez has a chance to be an impactful player at a number of positions. The 25-year-old plays all three outfield spots, and he also gives Mattingly another designated hitter option.

Ramirez was in the right-field starter mix when Spring Training was cancelled in mid-March. Now, Ramirez is ready to play anywhere. He’s leaner, having lost 15 pounds in the spring, although he said he has gained eight of those back sitting around in recent months.

Ramirez also has refined his batting stance. A year ago, he had a closed off stance, putting his lead foot (his left) closer to home plate with his back foot spaced wider. Now, Ramirez’s feet are more traditionally lined up.

“Harold has narrowed up, straightened up, as far as his legs,” Mattingly said. “Harold [last year] was really wide, really extreme.”

No matter his stance a year ago, Ramirez showed plenty of promise at the plate, hitting .276 with 11 home runs and 50 RBIs in 119 games.

The downside to having a closed-off stance is it makes it tougher to adjust to pitches inside.

“Now, I’m straight, and I use my legs more,” Ramirez said. “I moved my hands to my right shoulder. You guys are going to see me a little different this year.”

Ramirez has impressed his teammates in workouts, even before Summer Camp opened on July 1. They said he was the MVP of live batting practices.

“He was the MVP of the hitters in live BP,” Mattingly said.

Second sim game scrimmage
The Marlins had their second straight simulated scrimmage on Friday, with right-handers Pablo López and José Ureña each getting the start.

López threw five innings for the home team, giving up two runs. Ureña went four scoreless innings, and he was relieved by non-roster invite Ryan Cook in the fifth inning.

The Marlins have yet to announce their rotation. In Thursday’s scrimmage, Sandy Alcantara, projected to start on Opening Day, and Caleb Smith each pitched.

López and Ureña also are considered rotation frontrunners.

The competition for the fifth spot includes Jordan Yamamoto, Elieser Hernandez, Robert Dugger and Nick Neidert (No. 10 prospect).