Miami Marlins at Pittsburgh Pirates: Three stories to watch

Who Wins the Battle of the Top NL Outfields?

Well, at least that’s what the Pittsburgh Pirates marketing department told fans when tickets went on sale this offseason.

For the past few years, a plethora of pundit prognostication pegged the Marlins and Pirates as possessing the best two outfielding units in the business. Miami is arguably putting together their best combined case since 2014.

Starting with the Starling Marte suspension, the Pirates have had a rough start to the 2017 campaign. Both Andrew McCutchen and Gregory Polanco have looked like shells of their former selves, especially the former NL MVP.

That said, the duo has picked up their play a little of late, and sleeping on that fact would be a huge mistake for Marlins pitchers this weekend.

Still, between disappointing production and even more disappointing records, this showdown lacks some of the glamour it has had in seasons past. It might also be the last time the contest takes place.

McCutchen is no lock to remain a Pirate in 2018. There’s a new story every day about the Marlins being poised to deal away one of their All-Star caliber outfielders.

Bottom-line, enjoy the fireworks while you can. Whichever group puts up more of them will probably win the series for their respective ballclub.

Was It About Bour or Wrigley?

Well, the streak had to end eventually. What matters now is that the Miami Marlins do their best to ensure the Cubs series goes down as bump in the road to recovery and not another derailment.

For the most part, the Marlins were a different team offensively in this series. Which begs the question, was this all about the absence of Justin Bour from the lineup? Or was it just a matter of having to play the defending World Champions at home?

The answer will go a long way towards determining how this series will play out for Miami.

And as indicated in the last series preview, it will also say a lot about what to expect the rest of the season. Losing to the Cubs, even with a healthy Bour, is forgivable. The Pirates, even with some hotter hitting of late, have lost six of their last ten.

They’re a sub-500 team. The only thing they really share in common with the Marlins is that they have both failed to live up to expectations.

If you compare the clubs on paper, this should be a split for Miami at worst. The Pittsburgh advantage in pitching is slight for the season, but lopsidedly in Miami’s favor the past week. Hitting flips the script, with Miami decidedly winning the year long battle and coming just short lately.

Basically, the Marlins can’t come up short in this one.

If they can ride Pittsburgh out, they’re looking at a week with five games against weaker competition. Add a pair of off days before their next test and things are looking up. Plenty of time to get Bour back, maybe even Martin Prado.

Let’s hope the Marlins have it in them.

Is Starting Worley Worth It?

Lastly, let’s take a look at the pitching equivalent of a punt; Miami Marlins spot starter Vance Worley.

It’s entirely possible things will work out.

But that is just about the kindest thing that can be said about the veteran righty. In three starts, he’s never made it out of the fifth inning. He has allowed six hits in two of those appearances, and his season ERA rests at a disconcerting 6.59.

Those aren’t fantastic numbers. And while a close study of the box scores show that he’s never been outright responsible for a loss, the Marlins should have better options.

Mainly, I’m curious why it wouldn’t make more sense to move Dan Straily up a day, and start Justin Nicolino as soon as he is eligible to return Saturday.

The Fish could even hold on to Worley for the weekend- moving Brian Ellington or Nick Wittgren down for a couple days- in case one of those starts is cut short. But both Straily and Nicolino have better potential for success from the start than Worley does. Worley seems a lock to tax a bullpen that is still getting over the workout it received the last two games at Wrigley.

Next: Marlins Sign A Poor Man's Worley

This is a huge start for Worley and the Marlins. A good outing might muddy the waters, with anything less possibly leading to this being his final appearance with the Marlins.