- The Marlins were without the services of third baseman Hanley Ramirez in Pittsburgh due to an infection.
The Miami Marlins continue to struggle without Giancarlo Stanton as the Fish dropped their final five games on what was a six-game road-trip. The Marlins struggled to find much offense aside from a 9-5 win to open the trip in Chicago. The Marlins will now head home for six games beginning with a three-game-set against the Atlanta Braves. The Braves split a four-game-series with the Washington Nationals in the nation’s capital and will conclude a seven-game trip in South Florida before returning to Atlanta for a 10-game homestand.
The Miami Marlins enter the series with a record of 44-51 on the season. Miami is in fourth place and have fallen 11.5 games back of the first place Nationals in the National League East. Miami is also eight games back for the final wild card spot behind the Atlanta Braves. With a record of 52-43, the Braves are 3.5 games back in the N.L. East and just a half game up on the Los Angeles Dodgers for the final wild card position. The Braves and Marlins will play night games on Monday and Tuesday before a day game on Wednesday.
Season Series
Atlanta leads 4-1. The Marlins and Braves split a two-game-set in mid-May at Turner Field while Atlanta dominated the Fish in South Florida in early June. In early June, the Braves completed a three-game sweep of the Marlins outscoring Miami by a combined score of 21-3.
Hanley Misses Pittsburgh Series
Marlins’ third baseman Hanley Ramirez missed the entire series against the Pittsburgh Pirates over the weekend due to an infected cut sustained in St. Louis prior to the All-Star break. Ramirez was prescribed medication for his injury, but did not take the medication and the injury became infected. Greg Dobbs did go 4-for-11 in place of the injured Ramirez in the series with the Pirates, but did not drive in or score a run for Miami.
Fish a Season-High 7 Games Below .500
After a 1-5 road trip, the Miami Marlins have fell to 44-51, a season-high seven games below .500. The previous low for the Marlins was six games below .500 which they were on two occasions. The Marlins finished April 8-14 and during a stretch in June in which Miami lost 17 of 20 games, the Fish fell to 34-40. If there is good news for Miami, it is that the next six contests will be in South Florida where the Marlins have played better than on the road.
Pitching Matchups
Monday – Mike Minor (ATL) 5-6, 5.69 ERA vs. Josh Johnson (MIA) 5-7, 4.35 ERA
Tuesday – Tim Hudson (ATL) 8-4, 3.70 ERA vs. Mark Buehrle (MIA) 9-9, 3.29 ERA
Wednesday – Tommy Hanson (ATL) 10-5, 4.50 ERA vs. Ricky Nolasco (MIA) 8-8, 4.55 ERA
Outside the Redzone gives you Breaking Sports News, Opinion and Analysis with a Southeastern Feel and be sure to “Like” us on Facebook!
