Series Preview: New York Mets vs Miami Marlins (June 19-22)

The Miami Marlins have run into problems recently at home, which is to be expected, as they got off to an unsustainable start at home to start the season. After starting the season 19-6 at home, the Marlins have gone just 5-9 over their last five series, losing all but one of those series.

A major key for the Marlins turning things around at home will be the health of their right handed slugger, Giancarlo Stanton. He left the game on Wednesday against the Cubs with a right wrist contusion. If the Marlins are without his services for any of the games, their lineup takes a major hit.

The Mets come into this series in the basement of the NL East, but due to the mediocrity of the teams on the top, they are just 6 games back of the Washington Nationals for first place.

Pitching Match ups:

Thursday: June 18, 7:10 PM ET

Marlins: Andrew Heaney, LHP+ (MLB Debut) vs.  Mets: Zack Wheeler (2-7, 4.38 ERA)

Friday: June 19, 7:10 PM ET

Marlins: Henderson Alvarez (3-3, 2.56 ERA)  vs.  Mets: Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-0, 2.81 ERA)

Saturday: June 20, 4:10 PM ET

Marlins: Tom Koehler (5-5, 3.84 ERA)  vs.  Mets: Jacob deGrom (0-4, 4.39 ERA)

Sunday: June 21, 1:10 PM ET

Marlins: Anthony DeSclafani (1-1 , 5.60 ERA)  vs  Mets; Jon Niese (3-4, 2.67 ERA)

Breakdown:

The biggest headliner for the Marlins in this series has to be the major league debut of top pitching prospect, Andrew Heaney. For the second straight year, the Marlins will have their top pitching prospect debuting against the Mets. Jose Fernandez also made his major league debut against the Mets, last April. Heaney, who had his last start skipped in Triple-A, has not pitched since June 7th.

Wheeler, once a top prospect himself, has a 1.42 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in his career against the Marlins. Last time out against the Marlins, Wheeler struck out 7 hitters in six shutout innings. Wheeler’s 3.32 FIP is a better indicator of his true talent as a pitcher than his 4.38 ERA.

Henderson Alvarez has stepped up as the Marlins ace, since the Marlins lost Jose Fernandez for the season. His 3.12 FIP has been indicative of his strong performance. His 2.56 ERA has been even more impressive. Alvarez will go up against Daisuke, who left his last start with a severe stomach illness. Daiskue has thrown the ball well for the Mets.

The third game features two starters, Koehler and deGrom, who has struggled over their past few starts. deGrom has a 7.80 ERA over his last three starts, compared to a 6.61 ERA for Koehler.

The finale has the soft-tossing Niese throwing against DeSclafani. The start will be just the fourth start in his career for DeSclafani. He struggled the last two times out there and must improve on his meager 29% groundball rate to do well against MLB hitters. Niese owns a 2.61 ERA of his last three starts and has done pretty well as the staff ace for the Mets.

Prediction:

The Marlins face a familar division rival in hopes of turning things around and keeping pace in the NL East. Tonight’s game will probably be the most buzzed about game of the series for the Fish, as the highly anticipated Major League Debut of Andrew Heaney will take place. Heaney should make an immediate impact, winning his first ever start. The Heaney start will put the Marlins on the right path, as the team takes 3 of 4 from the Mets.

Giancarlo Stanton will prove his wrist is healthy and smash two home runs for the Marlins in the series. Jarrod Saltalamacchia will also have a big series, his first series returning from the concussion he sustained.

How do you see the series shaping up? Let me know down below, and Go Fish!