Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Chicago Cubs

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 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 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.