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

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.

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.

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