The Marlins are maintaining their hot streak. With the 6-5 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, they are now winners in eight of their last nine games. In five of those contests, they were also able to record 10 or more hits, and in four, they belted two or more home runs.
Marcell Ozuna is the clear front-runner in the offense’s good performances, but his teammates are also picking up the pace. Ozuna, Giancarlo Stanton, and Justin Bour are all batting .387 or better (the latter two are above .400), and they combine for eight homers, 32 hits, and 19 RBIs in the team’s last six games.
The defense, meanwhile, will be headlined by Dan Straily (4-3, 3.56 ERA). He will enter having earned a win in each of his last three starts, wherein he gave up 19 hits but had 24 strikeouts across 18.2 innings.
After a long six-game losing streak, the defending champs are now winners of three straight, as they swept bitter rivals St. Louis Cardinals in a trio of close games.
Though not owning great numbers overall, Jason Heyward and Javier Baez are emerging at the top of the team’s stat charts. The two are 12-for-43 with a pair of homers (both from Baez), four runs, and seven RBIs in the past week. It was, as you may know, due to reigning NL MVP Kris Bryant and number two guy Anthony Rizzo having down years – Bryant is only 6-for-44 (.139) in his last 13 games and Rizzo’s 3-for-4, one run night yesterday was already one of his best performances of the season.
Whoever scores on offense, it has to be really strong, since Monday’s starter, Eddie Butler (2-1, 4.42 ERA), doesn’t really look like he can provide much. He is yet to toss for more than five innings in his last three starts, and he has allowed seven runs in his last 9.1 innings. Also, the the Marlins are hitting an explosive .460 against him all-time, with 16 RBIs and three homers in just 50 total at-bats.
Writer’s Prediction
We should see the Marlins (+114) have their way against Butler, and eventually win, 8-4.
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