Series Preview: Miami Marlins vs Pittsburgh Pirates – September 17/19

Miami Marlins Players to Watch

SS Miguel Rojas

The team-leader in hits, Rojas is enjoying a strong 2021 season that includes career-high’s in runs, doubles, and stolen bases. The veteran shortstop is enjoying a strong month of September in which he has slashed .304/.333/.413 with nine RBI’s across 11 games.

2B Jazz Chisholm

Chisholm’s .739 OPS is one of the best on the Marlins, and a 20/20 season could potentially be in the works as he currently sits at 15 home runs and 21 stolen bases on the season. Chisholm has a hit in eight of 13 games so far this month, as well as one home run.

OF Bryan De La Cruz

Undoubtedly the Marlins hottest hitter at the moment is De La Cruz who holds an .882 OPS on the season. Across his last 11 games, De La Cruz has slashed .350/.435/.625 with three home runs and seven RBI’s.

RP Anthony Bender

The rookie right-hander has bounced-back nicely after a rough month of August in which he allowed seven earned runs across 12 innings. Since September began, Bender has thrown 5.2 scoreless innings primarily in the eighth inning role.

RP Dylan Floro

Similar to Bender previously, Floro has had a strong month of September after a rough August. Acting as Miami’s closer, Floro sports a 1.50 ERA across his last six innings with six strikeouts.

Pittsburgh Pirates Players to Watch

CF Bryan Reynolds

Reynolds is by-far Pittsburgh’s top hitter slashing .299/.385/.516 with 23 home runs and 86 RBI’s for the season. Entering play Thursday, Reynolds had collected a hit in five of his last seven games.

C Jacob Stallings

Acting as Pittsburgh’s primary catcher, Stallings has enjoyed a career-year posting a .701 OPS with eight home runs and 52 RBI’s in the largest single-season sample-size of his career. Stallings has posted a .717 OPS across his last 10 games.

RP David Bednar

The 26-year-old right-hander has enjoyed a phenomenal breakout 2021 campaign in year one with the Pirates. Pitching primarily in an eighth or ninth inning role, Bednar has posted a 2.18 ERA across 57.2 innings pitched.

3B Ke’Bryan Hayes

After a phenomenal 2020 season, the rookie third baseman has struggled at times this season. Hayes has however had a strong month of September so far batting .316 across his last nine games.

RP Chasen Shreve

Another Pirates reliever who has enjoyed a career-year in 2021 is Shreve. Across 48.2 innings pitched this season, the left-hander has posted a 3-1 record with a 2.77 ERA.

Start Times & Probable Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Friday, September 17 at 7:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: RHP Elieser Hernandez vs RHP Wil Crowe

Hernandez (MIA): 1-1, 4.14 ERA, 1.162 WHIP, 7 BB, 37 K

Crowe (PIT): 3-7, 5.97 ERA, 1.624 WHIP, 50 BB, 95 K

Game 2: Saturday, September 18 at 6:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: RHP Edward Cabrera vs RHP Bryse Wilson

Cabrera (MIA): 0-1, 6.61 ERA, 1.531 WHIP, 10 BB, 9 K – Marlins No. 2 Prospect

Wilson (PIT): 2-7, 4.97 ERA, 1.418 WHIP, 18 BB, 41 K

Game 3: Sunday, September 19 at 1:10 pm ET

Probable Starters: RHP Sandy Alcantara vs TBD

Alcantara (MIA): 9-13, 3.10 ERA, 1.055 WHIP, 48 BB, 185 K

Series Prediction

The Marlins and Pirates have only met once so far this season which was a four-game series in Pittsburgh back in early-June. The Pirates took three-of-four in the early-season series in which Miami was outscored 23-15.

While Pittsburgh won the series back in June, this series could be a different story with the Marlins pitching being the key.

Expect the Marlins to get three strong starts from Hernandez, Cabrera, and Alcantara to win at-least two over the weekend, while not necessarily ruling out a series-sweep.

Prediction: Marlins 2-1