Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Cincinatti Reds – August 27/29

After suffering a four-game series sweep to the Reds a week ago in Cincinnati, the Miami Marlins welcome the NL Central opponent to loanDepot Park for three games over the weekend.

Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Cincinatti Reds

After being swept in Cincinnati, the Marlins picked up a much-needed series win by taking two-of-three over the Nationals during the week. Before securing victories Wednesday and Thursday night, Miami had dropped eight consecutive games to the Braves, Reds, and the first game against the Nationals.

The Marlins sport a 53-75 record on the season, and currently sit fifth in the NL East. Miami also has a 2-8 record across their last 10 games, as well as being 32-31 at loanDepot Park so far this season.

The Reds come to Miami playing overall good baseball, but fresh off dropping two-of-three in Milwaukee against the NL Central leading Brewers. Dating back to an August 13 series opener in Philadelphia, the Reds have won eight of their last 13 games.

Cincinnati enters play with a 70-59 overall record, second place in the NL Central currently 8.5 games behind the first-place Brewers. The second-highest run scoring team in the NL (behind the Dodgers) however currently holds the second Wild Card spot, 1.5 games ahead of the San Diego Padres.

Cincinnati Reds Players to Watch

OF Nick Castellanos

The Reds best positional player is Castellanos who leads the team in both hits and batting average. Castellanos torched Marlins pitching a week ago collecting seven hits in 15 at-bats with six RBI’s.

2B Jonathan India

The likely leader for the 2021 NL Rookie of the Year is India, a versatile infielder who primarily plays second base for the Reds. For the season, India is slashing .273/.387/.457 with 16 home runs, 56 RBI’s, and eight stolen bases.

1B Joey Votto

Cincinnati’s veteran first baseman continues to swing a hot batas we enter the month of September. Votto collected three hits against Miami a week ago, two of which were home runs.

C Tyler Stephenson

The Reds rookie backstop continues his strong rookie season slashing .289/.374/.452. So far this month, Stephenson sports a .318 AVG with four home runs.

RP Jeff Hoffman

Splitting time between the rotation and bullpen this season, Hoffman has transitioned over the past month to a full-time bullpen role. Since returning in late-July, Hoffman has posted a 1.29 ERA across his last 14 innings.

Probable Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Friday, August 27 at 7:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: RHP Zach Thompson vs LHP Wade Miley

Thompson (MIA): 2-5, 2.97 ERA, 1.092 WHIP, 21 BB, 51 K

Miley (CIN): 10-4, 2.88 ERA, 1.228 WHIP, 45 BB, 107 K

Game 2: Saturday, August 28 at 6:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: RHP Sandy Alcantara vs RHP Vladimir Gutierrez

Alcantara (MIA): 7-12, 3.35 ERA, 1.124 WHIP, 46 BB, 146 K

Gutierrez (CIN): 9-4, 3.68 ERA, 1.290 WHIP, 35 BB, 73 K

Game 3: Sunday, August 29 at 1:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: LHP Jesus Luzardo vs RHP Tyler Mahle

Luzardo (MIA): 4-7, 7.91 ERA, 1.823 WHIP, 33 BB, 60 K

Mahle (CIN): 10-4, 3.69 ERA, 1.196 WHIP, 47 BB, 168 K

Series Prediction

As mentioned previously, last weeks four-game set in Cincinnati was all Reds, and while that could change here, there is no-denying these are two teams going in opposite directions.

The Reds hold a slim lead for the second NL Wild Card spot as we enter the month of September, while Miami is out of postseason contention. Things could be different here with this three-game series in Miami, but the Reds are currently the better team of the two.

The Marlins could win one here, but the Reds have too-much at stake to let these three games against a team they just swept in four-straight go to waste.

Prediction: Reds 2-1