Miami Marlins and New York Mets Series Preview

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The last time the Miami Marlins played the New York Mets…was pretty much the last time Marlins fans felt good about the Miami Marlins.

Of course, the start of that series might have been the last time Mets fans felt good about the New York Mets. Both the Miami Marlins and the New York Mets enter play today with an identical 12-15 record. Both squads have played well below .500 baseball since that last meeting.

The Mets at least can partially blame injuries. Whereas the Miami Marlins have only gotten healthier over the course of much of their present slide, even counting Edinson Volquez.

However, if history has taught us anything, it’s that these Marlins-Mets series are never dull.

Doesn’t matter if one team is good, both are, or both are terrible. Even if the final score reads blowout, more often than not, the damage came in a single wild inning.

Or as the result of a single wild play. Or maybe I just hate the Mets, or feel a need to psyche myself up about a scuffling team playing another scuffling, and Syndergaardless, scuffling team.

But, I’m not alone there. You also hate the Mets, Marlins fans that have made it this far. It’s in your DNA to recoil at the mention of David Wright, Jose Reyes, Mr. Met, and all the rest of them. So you’re on board for this series already. Because, with the Mets, it’s always personal.

However, if you do need some extra incentive to tune your dial towards the Marlins this weekend, we have your top three stories to watch. Let’s dive in.

It’s been a long time since the Miami Marlins top power hitter has gone deep. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /

When Will The Marlins See Their Next Stanton Shot?

Traditionally, the Marlins have been able to rely on some Giancarlo Stanton muscle when they hit Citi Field. Despite a poor .249 BA there for his career, there are only two stadiums the Marlins top power hitter has hit more home runs in. One is Marlins Park, the other is Hard Rock/Sun Life/Pro Player/Joe Robbie Stadium.

So unless you can manage being on the West Coast, if you need to stake Stanton with you on the road, you want to bring him to Queens.

However, Stanton is also in the midst of a ten-game power drought. Obviously, that’s the longest stretch this season. Although, some Marlins fans are probably starting to ask themselves if this getting close to the record for such homer futility.

If you’re asking that, I’d say you have a short memory. Stanton started last June with an 0 for 15 stretch.

But it is rare. You’d have to go back to 2013 to find a season where he had more than one such stretch in a season, and an 0 for 3 HR performance in this series would just crack the Top 5 droughts for his career. Something to watch for to be sure.

Merciful God, the Miami Marlins just brought back Justin Nicolino. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

What Will Happen With The Miami Marlins Pitching On Sunday?

If you go by ESPN pitching probables, the mystery of who starts on Sunday for the Miami Marlins has already been solved. Justin Nicolino will get the nod.

But Don Mattingly has been mum who will be making that start. Jose Urena stands out as the obvious in house candidate, as he is most often the guy flexed in and out between bullpen and rotation. Plus, you get the sense the Marlins are still in the process of evaluating exactly what they have in him.

My personal preference is David Phelps, as he has shown the best propensity for not being knocked out of sync by having to make the odd spot start. The club likes him as a late relief guy, though. But I think giving him multiple innings in one shot might actually do more good than harm in this case.

Or it could be Nicolino, who last pitched on May 2nd. He’d be in line to make an appearance, and that’s often enough. He has pitched better this year, in Spring Training and at AAA alike. Strikeouts are way up and the ERA is way down from his 2015 numbers, which is great. Although his walk rate his climbed significantly as well. So a mixed bag, but just as likely a choice as any.

“Plan B”ullpen?

The Marlins could also opt for a mix of the all above, of course, with a smattering of others. If Tom Koehler and Wei-Yin Chen can pitch deep into the game the first two nights of this series, Mattingly might be tempted to make a bullpen day of it.

Allocating two to three innings a piece to the long arms on hand, which could easily include all three of the starting options listed above come Sunday afternoon.

Fans should pay close attention to how Phelps, Urena, and even Dustin McGowan are used the next two days.

Theoretically, the Miami Marlins are skating on facing the elite arms. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports /

Can Miami Capitalize On Theoretically Weaker Pitching?

The last time the Miami Marlins played the Mets, they had to face both Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard.

That won’t be an issue in this one, as struggling Dark Knight Matt Harvey is the only big name threat the Fish will be facing. Basically, so far in 2017, he’s been the Dark Knight from the first three hours of The Dark Knight Rises. Not so much his Batman Begins, Dark Knight former self.

Of course, the last time the Marlins played the Mets, they beat deGrom and Syndergaard pretty handily. So perhaps this point is being overdrawn. But the Fish have a really nice opportunity here to get some separation from the Mets, and add on to an already impressive 5-2 record against one of the NL East’s elite teams.

Next: Marlins Fish Flash 5/5

Just look at it this way. If the Marlins win this series, they will have already matched their 2016 season total for victories against New York, just a week into May.

And on that happy thought, we wish you a joyous Cinco de Mayo. Soak up the rivalry weekend, and we’ll catch you next series.

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