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Reds vs. Marlins: Game 85 Thread

The Cincinnati Reds and the Miami Marlins will face each other for the first time on Friday at Marlins Park. The Marlins will have ace Jose Fernandez on the mound, while the Reds will counter with Dan Straily. This is the final series before the All-Star break begins on Monday.

By Dylan Goldman
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Marlins fans can rejoice, as today is Jose Day at Marlins Park! The Marlins are set to begin a three-game weekend series against the Cincinnati Reds, and this is the last series before the All-Star break begins with the Home Run Derby on Monday. The Marlins are coming off a disappointing 3-6 road trip, while the Reds are coming off a very positive series against the Chicago Cubs, where they took two of three from the leaders in the NL Central.

Fernandez was recently named an All-Star for the second time in his career, and he certainly deserved it based off of his performance this season. Fernandez is 10-4 this season, with 146 strikeouts and 31 walks in 100.1 innings pitched. The Reds will counter with Dan Straily who has been very solid for the Reds this year. In 95.1 innings pitched, the California native is 4-5, and he’s struck out 78 batters, while allowing 46 runs this season. Straily has only pitched against the Marlins once, and that came in 2013, when he gave up two runs in four innings of work.

Pitching Matchup

Team Starter ERA FIP 2016 ZIPS Projected ERA
CIN Dan Straily 4.34 4.72 5.17
MIA Jose Fernandez 2.69 2.19 2.66

Cincinnati (32-54) has been through a lot of struggles this season, as they’ve yet to record a winning month. The Reds went 12-16 in June, which is the closest they’ve come to a winning month. The Marlins (44-41) are currently 2.5 games out of the second wild card spot, and they are finally getting help from their biggest offensive superstar.

Giancarlo Stanton was in a massive hitting slump before the road trip, and then he broke out of it in a big way. Against the New York Mets on Tuesday and Wednesday, Stanton hit four home runs in four consecutive at-bats. He joined Albert Pujols as the only big leaguer to accomplish that feat. Fernandez has dazzled at Marlins Park, as he is 24-1 with a 1.48 ERA when he starts at home.

Today's Lineups

CINCINNATI REDS MIAMI MARLINS
Zack Cosart - SS J.T. Realmuto - C
Billy Hamilton - CF Martin Prado - 3B
Joey Votto - 1B Christian Yelich - LF
Jay Bruce - RF Giancarlo Stanton - RF
Adam Duvall - LF Marcell Ozuna - CF
Brandon Phillips - 2B Derek Dietrich - 2B
Eugenio Suarez - 3B Don Kelly - 1B
Tucker Barnhart - C Adeiny Hechavarria - SS
Dan Straily - RHP Jose Fernandez - RHP

Notes

- Reds shortstop Zack Cosart has now homered in three consecutive games.

- Reds outfielder Adam Duvall, and Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton were selected to participate in the Home Run Derby on July 11.

- Jay Bruce and Martin Prado return to their respective lineups after resting on Wednesday.

Prediction: Marlins defeat Reds, 3-1

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