Miami Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs game preview 9/3/13

Aug 23, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher

(34) delivers a pitch during the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Marlins look to extend their winning streak to 3 games on Tuesday night as they take on the Chicago Cubs in the second game of their 3 game series. Miami won the first game 4-3 off of a strong showing by pitcher Henderson Alvarez who not only got the win but also hit a 3 run homer.

Chris Coghlan returns to the lineup tonight for the first time since June 8th. The former rookie of the year has been sidelined with a back and calf injury. Coghlan will hit leadoff and play third base for the Marlins.

Chicago will send Edwin Jackson to the hill. Jackson has struggled this season to a 7-14 record. Jackson was the first starting pitcher to reach 14 losses this season. He has started 26 games and has thrown 150.2 innings on the year. He has an ERA of 4.90 to go along with 117 strikeouts. Jackson’s FIP is actually not too bad as it currently resides at 3.72.  The Cubs have lost the previous 5 games that Jackson has started. Edwin has become a bit of a nomad in recent years as he is making his 8th stop in the last 5 years with 7 separate teams (He ended up on the White Sox 2 separate times).

Miami will answer with the rookie Tom Koehler. Koehler is 3-9 on the year with a 4.72 ERA in 114.1 innings. Koehler has struck out 78 batters and has walked 44. Koehler was shelled in his last outing against the Washington Nationals in which he gave up 6 earned runs in 5 innings pitched. Koehler has struggled with giving up the big inning or two each outing. He was victimized in the previous game with a 4 run 6th inning. Miami is attempting to win their first series since they took 2 of 3 from the Kansas City Royals August 12th-14th.

Bold Prediction: This game poses an interesting question. If two offenses that are struggling face two pitchers that have a penchant for giving up big innings, what happens? I am hoping it is not the end of the world but I am not ruling it out. Instead I am merely predicting a 6-4 win for the Marlins and a homerun by young Jake Marisnick. I think that Koehler has one bad inning but is able to limit his damage to 3 earned runs and consecutive saves for Steve Cishek.