W2W4: Miami Marlins eye series win against Giants – 8/16

The Miami Marlins are eyeing their second consecutive series victory. They meet the San Francisco Giants in a decisive game three matchup.

The Miami Marlins have found themselves in the press a lot lately. The team is being sold, Giancarlo Stanton is hitting home runs every night, and the Miami Marlins are winning games. The Fish are looking to keep the good times rolling on Wednesday.

Now within four games of .500, they’re looking to end their homestead on a high note. A win would not only clinch the series against the Giants, but it would cap an impressive 5-1 home stand. Things are trending in the right direction for the Miami Marlins.

Here are a few things to keep an eye out for in Wednesday’s matinee finale:

Giancarlo Stanton home run streak

The most notable storyline heading into the game is that of Giancarlo Stanton and his home run streak. The Miami Marlins slugger has belted a home run in each of his last six games, and has hit 11 in his last 12 games.

During his streak, Stanton is hitting an unreal .458/.500/1.250, with 11 RBI’s and 11 hits. The Miami Marlins have managed to go 4-2 during his six game streak, which included Tuesday’s loss to the Giants.

During the streak, Stanton’s approach appears to be geared towards making solid contact, with the long balls coming as a result of his size and natural power.

He’ll face starter Matt Cain this afternoon. In 28 at bats, Stanton has slugged four home runs against Cain, and has a career .364 batting average. He’s had more success against the Giants right-hander than any other pitcher on their staff.

That bodes well for those hoping to see the streak extended today.

Jose Urena looking to bounce back

Jose Urena has been one of the pleasant surprises for the Miami Marlins this season. After starting the year in the bullpen, he has emerged as one of their most reliable starters. The Dominican righty has all but solidified his place in the Marlins rotation.

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Last game, his pitch count was run up to 98 pitches very quickly. In what ultimately proved to be a winning effort for the Fish, the Colorado Rockies forced a number of deep counts and got to the bullpen early. The Marlins have been scrambling to recover since.

Despite the fact that they’ve been able to notch wins, manager Don Mattingly has been forced to finesse the way he uses his bullpen since that start. It finally caught up to them last night, as the bullpen allowed six runs in a 9-4 Marlins loss.

Urena needs to work quickly and give the Marlins a deep start. They have an off day as they travel to New York, and if he can go seven or eight innings, the bullpen will be fully rested and ready to shut down the New York Mets.

Returning to Miami over .500

What once seemed impossible could be a reality by the time the Miami Marlins return home from their road trip. It has to start tonight with a win. If the Fish can manage to take todays pivotal rubber-game against the Giants, they set themselves up to come home better than even.

With a three-game series against a struggling New York Mets team, and a four-game series against Major League Baseball’s worst Philadelphia Phillies, the opportunity is there for the taking.

It won’t be easy. They’ll need to finish off the Giants on Wednesday, and sweep either the Mets or the Phillies, while winning the other series. The Marlins are above both teams in the NL East standings, and have been playing a better brand of baseball.

Keep an eye out for this Miami Marlins team. They could be coming home a winning ball club.

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Wednesday’s matinee against the San Francisco Giants will conclude a compelling three-game series. Highlighted by Giancarlo Stanton and his ridiculous home run streak, there is plenty else to watch for. A win would go a long way for the Miami Marlins.