Series Preview: Miami Marlins @ San Diego Padres May 6-8, Games 33-35

May 5, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Marlins center fielder Justin Ruggiano (20) celebrates scoring with teammates during the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Marlins defeated the Phillies 14-2. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Winners of five of their previous eight games, the suddenly hot Miami Marlins travel to San Diego to take on the Padres. The Marlins won’t have an easy opponent in the Padres, as they come into this series winners of seven of their previous ten games.

The Marlins hope to keep their bats on fire, as they are coming off of a 14-run explosion on Roy Halladay and Philadelphia Phillie pitching.

Miami won five of six head-to-head meetings last season, including all three at Petco Park.

Miami Marlins (10-22) @ San Diego Padres (13-18)  May 6-8, Games 33-35

NL East Standings

Stadium: Petco Park

May 5, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; General view of the Petco Park sign during the San Diego Padres game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Stadium Dimensions:
Left field line—334 ft.
Left-center field—367 ft.
Center field—396 ft.
Right-center field—387 ft.
Right field line—322 ft.

2013 Season Statistics

May 1, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Andrew Cashner (34) delivers a pitch against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

May 1, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Wade LeBlanc (23) throws in the fifth inning against the New York Mets at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Monday, May 6th- Wade LeBlanc vs Andrew Cashner:

Wade LeBlanc returns to face the team that drafted him in the second round in 2006. He will get the ball for the Marlins on Monday. This will be LeBlanc’s first start in San Diego as a visitor. LeBlanc pitched four seasons with the Padres, before being traded to the Marlins for catcher John Baker. Leblanc allowed four earned runs over 5 2/3 innings pitched Wednesday against the Mets, but escaped with a no decision. LeBlanc has allowed 10 earned runs in his previous 15 innings, including some trouble with the long ball.

San Diego will have Andrew Cashner on the mound. Cashner is making just his fourth start of the season since being moved into the rotation from the bullpen. In his his previous start against the Chicago Cubs, Cashner lasted only four innings after giving up four runs on six hits. Cashner also walked four and struck out just one batter.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/05/06/3383004/miami-marlins-10-22-at-san-diego.html#storylink=cpy

Tuesday, May 7th- Alex Sanabia vs Eric Stults

May 2, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Alex Sanabia (28) delivers to the plate during the fourth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Sanabia’s time in the Marlins starting rotation keeps being prolonged due to injuries to Nathan

May 2, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Eric Stults (53) delivers a pitch during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Reid Compton-USA TODAY Sports

Eovladi and Henderson Alvarez. Eovaldi is not expected back until mid-June and there is no timetable on Alvarez after he suffered a set back this past week. None the less, Sanabia will take the mound for the Marlins Tuesday night. His 4.67 ERA and 5.91 FIP suggest he is at best a poor number 5 starter.

Eric Stults will be the Padres starter in game two, Tuesday night. Stults is a soft-tossing lefty, the type of pitcher that has often given the Marlins troubles in the past. The former Dodger will not strike out a ton of batters, but he also maintains good control and won’t walk many hitters, either. Stults pitched 6 2/3 innings Thursday against the Cubs, giving up two runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out four Cubs, but did not factor in the decision.

Wednesday, May 8th- Ricky Nolasco vs Jason Marquis

Ricky Nolasco gets the ball in the finale for the Fish. Nolasco has been up and down for the Fish this season. In one start, he will look like the Nolasco of old, racking up strikeouts and inducing groundball outs. The next start he will struggle to strike any hitters out and allow a bunch of flyballs. Ricky allowed three home runs in his last start against the

May 3, 2013; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Miami Marlins pitcher Ricky Nolasco (47) watches as Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown (9) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies defeated the Marlins 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Phillies. The Marlins will need Ricky to pitch a bit better if they want to extrapolate as much as

May 3, 2013; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Jason Marquis (21) throws during the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

they can for him in a future trade.

Veteran Jason Marquis pitches in the finale for the Padres. Marquis has not fared well in 2013, as he has almost as many walks (19) as he does strikeouts (23). He has also surrendered six long balls on the season in just 36 innings of work. This has led to his ugly 4.25 ERA and even uglier 5.74 FIP. In his last start against the Diamondbacks on Friday, Marquis gave up three runs on four hits and five walks with five strikeouts in a victory.

Bold Prediction: The Marlins stay hot and take two of three from the Padres. Marcell Ozuna will comeback down to earth a little bit, but continue his hitting streak to 9 games by the end of the series. Justin Ruggiano‘s bat will also find the fans a couple of times in this series.