8:40 pm
August 6

Marlins @ Rockies

Who will WIN this matchup?

Miami Marlins (47-62)

@ Colorado Rockies (48-61)

 

Starting Pitchers:

Alcantara (MIA): 6-9; 3.12 ERA

Marquez (COL) 9-8; 3.51 ERA

 

Current odds:

Miami Marlins: (+145)

Colorado Rockies: (-155)

 

• The Miami Marlins have seen enough of New York teams and now they’re ready to face someone from a different state. That starts with a three-game weekend series at the Colorado Rockies, with the first game Friday night. Miami will send Sandy Alcantara (6-9, 3.12 ERA) to the mound to face Colorado All-Star German Marquez in a battle of right-handers.

• Alcantara is making his 23rd start of the season and third since his mother, Francesca, died in the Dominican Republic. He has pitched well in his last two starts but has an 0-1 record to show for it. In his last outing on Sunday against the New York Yankees, he didn’t allow a run and gave up just two hits in seven innings of a no-decision.

• It was the seventh time this season Alcantara had pitched at least seven innings while allowing two or fewer runs, but the Marlins are just 2-5 in those games. Alcantara has been able to keep an even demeanor during a frustrating season.

• Miami is coming off a successful series against the Yankees’ crosstown rivals, the Mets. The Marlins took three of the four games from the NL East leaders, including a 4-2 win on Thursday afternoon, and finished 3-4 in the New York-heavy homestand.

• Marquez (9-8, 3.51), like Alcantara, is making his 23rd start of the season but has gotten a little more support from his lineup. He is coming off a gritty 5-3 win at San Diego on Sunday, when he allowed two runs over six innings and helped his own cause with a solo homer off Yu Darvish — the second dinger of his career.

• Marquez made his first All-Star team last month and pitched one clean inning in the game, and he has been solid since then. He is 5-2 with a 1.99 ERA over his last eight starts and 7-4 with a 2.43 ERA over his last 13. He has been even better at Coors Field, where he is 6-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 13 starts, and he has a 1.53 ERA over his last seven home starts. He is 2-3 with a 5.11 ERA in five career starts against the Marlins.

• The Rockies won two of three games against the Chicago Cubs in the series that ended with a 6-5 win on Thursday.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Colorado Rockies