Can Zac Gallen and the Marlins beat the Mets tonight?

Can rookie Zac Gallen finally get his first win on the Major League level as he and the Marlins face the New York Mets in game two of the series?

I wanted to write what my fellow Marlin Maniac expert Kevin Kraczkowski had to say about the Marlins win over the New York Mets, but he beat me to it.

“Maybe we won’t win the division, make the playoffs, or even finish .500, but I think the #Marlins can probably catch the Mets,” he wrote in his teaser for his story from last night’s win over their National League East rivals.

The Marlins are going to be one of those teams we may look back on at the end of the season and say “What would have happened if this didn’t start out 10-31?”

Now, with the first game of the second half of 2019 under their belts and a display of power in their 8-4 win, the Marlins will try to earn a second straight victory and a series win. Both would be welcomed as Miami continues to try and gain ground on New York in the standings.

More from Marlins News

• Miami Marlins news: Another target gone
• Why didn’t the Miami Marlins sign JDM?
• Miami Marlins rejected Boston‘s trade offer
• Miami Marlins are pursuing Michael Conforto
• Miami Marlins need to spend to win

“The Marlins entered the second half ranked last in the Majors in home runs, with 68,” Joe Frisaro of MLB.com wrote. “They’re even less of a home run threat at spacious Marlins Park, where they had gone deep just 28 times prior to taking the series opener against New York.”

It’s the little things this organization can build on. Caleb Smith got the victory, his second in as many starts since returning from the Injured List prior to the All-Star Game. Smith struck out six batters in six innings for the victory.

On Saturday night, the home team will send rookie Zac Gallen to face the Mets for the first time in his career with a chance of winning his first Major League Game. The 23-year-old has looked good in his time on the Major League roster but has yet to grab the all-important “W” just yet.

This will be Gallen’s fourth start of the season and has thrown just 12 innings so far. In the last start on the mound against the Washington Nationals, he surrendered two runs in two innings before the game was halted for a rain delay, which ended his evening.

Gallen is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA and 16 strikeouts.

Miami will face Noah Syndergaard who has a 6-4 record on the season with a 4.68 ERA and 101 strikeouts. The righty has struggled of late, posting a 5.94 ERA and has walked eight batters over his last 16 2/3 innings in three starts before the All-Star break.