Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Cincinnati Reds

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Miami Marlins second baseman Isan Diaz (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

After suffering a series sweep at home to begin the week, the Miami Marlins hit the road for four quick games in Cincinnati before returning home. This will be a familiar opponent for the Marlins over the next week and a half as these two teams will meet seven times over the next 11 days.

Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Cincinatti Reds

Miami as mentioned previously is coming off a three-game series sweep at loanDepot Park to the Braves. Despite a six-run ninth inning comeback that fell just short on Wednesday night, the Marlins struggled mightily in this series in multiple different areas.

After reaching fourth place in the NL East, the Marlins fell back down to fifth during the week with a 51-70 overall record. Miami now hits the road for this short series in Cincinnati, but have struggled on the road this season with a 21-40 record away from loanDepot Park.

The Reds on the other hand are squarely in the race for an NL Wild Card spot, but didn’t help those chances dropping two-of-three against the struggling Cubs during the week. Now facing another struggling team at home, the Reds cannot afford to drop another series against a below .500 to avoid falling out of a crowded Wild Card race.

Cincinnati enters this series with a 65-57 overall record, and nine games back of first in the NL Central. Despite the division most-likely going to the Brewers, the Reds are 1.5 games back in the Wild Card, and are a popular pick around baseball to eventually claim an NL Wild Card spot because of their high-powered offense that has scored the second most runs in the NL.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Reds Players to Watch

OF Nick Castellanos

Arguably the Reds best player is Castellanos, who is enjoying a career year in his second season in Cincinnati. Selected to his first All-Star team this season, the 29-year-old is slashing .317/.376/.567 with 21 HR’s and 64 RBI’s.

2B Jonathan India

If Marlins starter Trevor Rogers isn’t the 2021 NL Rookie of the Year, an excellent case can be made for India. For the season, the rookie second baseman is slashing .280/.393/.471 with 16 HR’s, 55 RBI’s, and 8 SB’s.

1B Joey Votto

Votto leads the Reds in both HR’s and RBI’s on the season, and could make an excellent case that the veteran first baseman is their best player. Votto’s .944 OPS is also the highest among the Reds active players.

C Tyler Stephenson

Stephenson is enjoying a strong rookie season slashing .291/.376/.452 with nine HR’s and 38 RBI’s. The 25-year-old backstop is also enjoying a phenomenal month of August slashing .343/.385/.714 with four HR’s.

C Tucker Barnhart

Cincinnati’s other catcher in Barnhart is also enjoying a career season. The veteran backstop is slashing .268/.339/.419 with seven HR’s and 40 RBI’s.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Probable Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Thursday, August 19 at 7:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: TBD vs RHP Luis Castillo

Castillo (CIN): 6-12, 4.51 ERA, 1.409 WHIP, 59 BB, 138 K

Game 2: Friday, August 20 at 7:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: RHP Elieser Hernandez vs RHP Sonny Gray

Hernandez (MIA): 0-0, 2.84 ERA, 0.789 WHIP, 1 BB, 13 K

Gray (CIN): 4-6, 4.47 ERA, 1.390 WHIP, 37 BB, 113 K

Game 3: Saturday, August 21 at 6:40 pm ET

Probable Starters: TBD vs LHP Wade Miley

Miley (CIN): 10-4, 2.84 ERA, 1.211 WHIP, 42 BB, 104 K

Game 4: Sunday, August 22 at 1:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: RHP Sandy Alcantara vs RHP Vladimir Gutierrez

Alcantara (MIA): 7-11, 3.39 ERA, 1.137 WHIP, 44 BB, 135 K

Gutierrez (CIN): 8-4, 3.87 ERA, 1.349 WHIP, 34 BB, 65 K

Series Prediction

While both teams are coming off disappointing series’, these are two teams that are going in different directions over the remainder of the season.

The Marlins are out of postseason contention, while the Reds on the other hand are squarely in the running for an NL Wild Card spot. Because of this, Cincinnati cannot allow back-to-back series’ losses against two teams that are below-.500.

Next. Remainder of 2021 Season Key for this Marlins pitcher. dark

While there is a chance that we could be in store for a bounce-back series from Miami, this four-game set is the Reds to lose.

Prediction: Reds 3-1

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Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Cincinnati Reds – August 19/22

Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Cincinatti Reds

Cincinnati Reds Players to Watch

Probable Pitching Matchups

Series Prediction

Schedule