Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Chicago Cubs

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Miami Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

After a rough road-trip, the Miami Marlins return home to loanDepot Park for an arguably much-needed six-game homestand with the first series against the Chicago Cubs. A rematch of the 2020 NL Wild Card Series, Miami and Chicago have already met once this season back in mid-June at Wrigley Field where the Marlins took two-of-three outscoring the Cubs 21-5 in the process.

Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Chicago Cubs

As mentioned previously, the Marlins return home after a rough six-game road-trip dropping five-of-six in Colorado and San Diego. Overall, the Marlins were outscored 48-29 across those six games combined, but saw some special performances from one player in particular (more on that later).

Entering this series with a 48-67 record on the season, the Marlins are currently fifth in the NL East, 12 games behind the first place Phillies. Miami sports a 4-6 record across their last 10 games, and have played exactly .500 baseball at loanDepot Park this season with a 27-27 record at home during the 2021 campaign.

Chicago on the other hand comes to Miami struggling mightily with a 1-9 record in their last 10 games. Having lost eight in a row, the Cubs are coming off a four-game series sweep at home to the Brewers where they were outscored a combined 37-9.

This is a very different Cubs team compared to the last time these two teams met as Chicago was a massive seller at the July 30th MLB Trade Deadline. Posting a 2-10 record since the deadline, the Cubs enter this series at 52-65 overall, sitting in fourth in the NL Central 18.5 games behind the first place Brewers.

Chicago Cubs first baseman Patrick Wisdom (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs Players to Watch

3B/1B Patrick Wisdom

The current big bat in the Cubs everyday lineup is Wisdom who is slashing .267/.335/.564 with 17 HR’s in a breakout season. Wisdom comes to Miami with a three-game hitting streak where he has four hits in his last 11 at-bats.

OF Rafael Ortega

The former Marlin is no-doubt the Cubs hottest hitter at the moment. Entering play on Thursday, Ortega was slashing .444/.487/.722 with three HR’s across his last 10 games, nine of which he collected at-least one hit.

RP Dan Winkler

Winkler is arguably the Cubs top remaining reliever as he displays a 3.20 ERA so far this season. The 31-year-old right-hander however struggled in his previous outing allowing three runs on Tuesday against the Brewers.

RP Justin Steele

The rookie right-hander has been a pleasant surprise for the Cubs so far this season posting a 2.95 ERA across 18.1 IP. Steele recently made his first career start on Tuesday allowing three earned runs over five innings pitched.

SS Andrew Romine

The veteran utility man entered play Tuesday slashing .296/.296/.444 across 11 games so far this season. Seemingly Chicago’s everyday shortstop for the time being, Romine could see a start in all three games this weekend.

Miami Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

Miami Marlins Players to Watch

SS Miguel Rojas

The by-far current team leader with a 2.8 WAR, Rojas is the Marlins leader in both batting average and OBP. Rojas is currently slashing .324/.390/.541 across his last 10 games which includes a hit in eight-of-ten, as well as four multi-hit games.

1B Jesus Aguilar

Aguilar leads the NL with 79 RBI’s, as well as by-far the team leader in the category along with 20 HR’s. The veteran first-baseman is 5-for-12 across his last three games with one HR, one double, three runs scored, and three RBI’s.

OF Lewis Brinson

The hottest hitter in baseball at the moment, Brinson is slashing .390/.432/.780 across his last 11 games with four HR’s and 15 RBI’s. This phenomenal run also includes six multi-hit games, two of which the 27-year-old outfielder has collected three hits.

RP Dylan Floro

A constant of Miami’s late-inning bullpen options throughout the season, Floro has emerged as a closing option for the Marlins since the trade deadline. For the year, Floro has posted a 2.72 ERA across 46.1 innings pitched.

RP Anthony Bender

Emerging as another high-leverage/closing option in recent weeks, the rookie right-hander has posted a 2.18 ERA this season across 41.1 innings pitched. Across his last five outings, Bender has posted a 2.08 ERA with two holds and a save.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Zach Thompson (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /

Probable Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Friday, August 13 at 7:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: LHP Jesus Luzardo vs RHP Adbert Alzolay

Luzardo (MIA & OAK): 3-5, 7.36 ERA, 1.678 WHIP, 23 BB, 47 K

Alzolay (CHC): 4-12, 4.71 ERA, 1.162 WHIP, 31 BB, 106 K

Game 2: Saturday, August 14 at 6:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: TBD vs RHP Zach Davies

Davies (CHC): 6-9, 5.26 ERA, 1.570 WHIP, 61 BB, 84 K

Game 3: Sunday, August 15 at 1:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: RHP Zach Thompson vs RHP Alec Mills

Thompson (MIA): 2-5, 3.09 ERA, 1.179 WHIP, 20 BB, 45 K

Mills (CHC): 5-4, 4.27 ERA, 1.409 WHIP, 22 BB, 53 K

Series Prediction

This series will obviously be missing numerous prominent players from when these two teams last met. It’s clear that both of these teams are struggling at the moment, but it certainly feels like this series could be Miami’s to lose.

Despite the Marlins current struggles, the Cubs have struggled the same, if not more, over the past two weeks. Both teams have players that are playing outstanding baseball right now (Brinson and Ortega), but it may be hard to find many other glaring bright spots for each aside from those two.

Miami should pick up at-least one-to-two wins here at home, but based on the way Chicago is playing at the moment, don’t necessarily rule out a Marlins sweep either.

Prediction: Marlins 2-1

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Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Players to Watch

Miami Marlins Players to Watch

Probable Pitching Matchups

Series Prediction

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