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.

Miami Marlins Players to Watch

SS Miguel Rojas 

Rojas collected five hits a week ago against the Reds, two of which were doubles. The Marlins shortstop leads the team in batting average, while also not far behind the for lead in hits.

1B Jesus Aguilar

Aguilar leads the NL in RBI’s, while also the Miami leader in home runs, RBI’s, OBP, and hits. For the season, the Marlins first baseman is slashing .264/.333/.472.

2B Jazz Chisholm

Chisholm has had a productive month of August posting a .741 OPS entering play Thursday with three home runs. Chisholm has also collected six multi-hit games during that span.

OF Bryan De La Cruz

Acquired from Houston at the trade deadline, De La Cruz is certainly impressing during his first ever major league action. Across 24 games of far the versatile outfielder is slashing .333/.375/.457 with two home runs.

RP Dylan Floro

Floro has acted primarily as Miami’s closer since the trade deadline. Since then, the right-hander has posted a 4.15 ERA across 8.2 innings pitched.