Marlins Lineup Gets Major Test Against Paul Skenes With Wild Card Race Tightening
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The Miami Marlins have given everyone a reason to start watching. They have their own watch going on with the National League Wild Card standings. Everything matters at this point.
Miami is entering Tuesday night’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 60-59 record. They have won two straight and are just 3.5 games behind in the Wild Card race.
After having a day off on Monday, the Marlins are going to try to keep the momentum going following a 12-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. Tuesday will present a much more difficult offensive matchup, though.
The Pirates ace, Paul Skenes, will be taking the mound.
He will trot to the mound holding a 9-10 record and a 3.96 ERA, along with earning 162 strikeouts.
The Marlins will counter that effort with Eury Perez, who is 5-9 on the season and holds a 3.61 ERA with 121 strikeouts.
Marlins Making Changes Against Skenes
Manager Clayton McCullough decided to move Xavier Edwards back to the top of the order against Skenes.
Edwards will walk to the box batting .284 with a .755 OPS and will take the start at second base. He will be followed by Otto Lopez, who is one of Miami’s hottest batters. He’s averaging .318 with an .821 OPS.
Griffin Conine will hit third and play first base. He is coming off one of his best games of the season. Conine went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI against the Angels on Sunday. That performance inched his OPS to .893 on the year.
This lineup is going to have to find a way to generate some offense against one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Marlins Starting Lineup vs. Pirates
- Xavier Edwards, 2B
- Otto Lopez, SS
- Griffin Conine, 1B
- Heriberto Hernandez, LF
- Jakob Marsee, CF
- Javier Sanoja, 3B
- Owen Caissie, DH
- Joe Mack, C
- Esteury Ruiz, RF
Making This Stretch Matter for Miami
We all know the saying that “Every game matters.” But in the Marlins’ case, this may have never been more true. Miami is at 60-59 and just 3.5 games behind Arizona and Philadelphia in the Wild Card race. Honestly, San Diego is within reach as well, as they sit at 63-57.
This all makes Tuesday’s game important.
While Miami’s offense clearly presented itself as valid on Sunday by collecting 14 hits and going 6-for-16 with runners in scoring position, Skenes presents a whole new level of challenge.
The Marlins have played themselves right back into contention. A victory against the Pirates and their ace would mean that much more.
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