Dodgers @ Marlins

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Dodgers (87-37)

@ Miami Marlins (54-71)

Starting Pitchers:

May (LAD): 1-0; 0.00 ERA

Alcantara (MIA) 11-6; 2.19 ERA

Current odds:

Los Angeles Dodgers: (-196)

Miami Marlins: (+167)

• The starting line-up for the Dodgers is as follows:

• The starting line-up for the Marlins is as follows:

• The Miami Marlins and visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, who will meet again on Saturday evening in the second game of a four-game set, don’t have much in common. Los Angeles has the best record in the majors at 87-37 and is 27-7 since the All-Star break and 42-9 in its past 51 games. Miami fell out of playoff contention long ago and has dropped two in a row and six of the past eight.

• On Friday, the Dodgers opened the series by beating the Marlins 10-6 in 10 innings behind Mookie Betts, who went 4-for-6 with two homers, a double and four RBIs. The Dodgers have won all four meetings with Miami this season, all in the past eight days.

• In fact, perhaps the only thing the teams have in common is that there is no real pressure on either squad. The Dodgers are cruising to the playoffs, and the Marlins — at least from the fans’ perspective — are looking to 2023. However, Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said that even with his team holding a 19 1/2-game lead in the National League West, there is always the will to win.

• Meanwhile, the Marlins are in another rebuilding mode. On Friday, they designated veteran first baseman Jesus Aguilar for assignment. The move clears more playing time for 25-year-old first baseman Lewin Diaz.

• On Saturday, the Marlins will start their ace, right-hander Sandy Alcantara (11-6, 2.19 ERA).

• Los Angeles will start right-hander Dusty May (1-0, 0.00), who is just back from Tommy John surgery.

• The Marlins are 17 games under .500 overall but are 15-10 when they start Alcantara, who nonetheless took a loss in his most recent outing. On Sunday against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, he allowed season highs of 10 hits and six runs in a season-low 3 2/3 innings during a 10-3 defeat. For his career, Alcantara is 0-3 with a 14.79 ERA in four starts against the Dodgers. However, it bodes well for him that in 51 career starts in Miami, he has a 2.82 ERA.

• Alcantara leads the majors with 176 2/3 innings pitched this season. The length he normally provides the Marlins will be badly needed on Saturday because Miami went with a bullpen day for 10 innings on Friday, using eight pitchers.

• May made his season debut on Aug. 20, beating the Marlins 7-0, showing no signs of rust from a 475-day layoff. He allowed just one hit, two walks and no runs in five innings, and he struck out nine.