Marlins vs. Reds: Game 86 Thread

With the New York Mets' loss to the Washington Nationals last night, the Miami Marlins have gained traction in the standings. At 45-41, they are now two games behind the Mets with two games remaining until the All Star break, in hot pursuit of a postseason birth. The Cincinnati Reds, meanwhile, have lost seven of their last ten and flitter at the bottom of the National League Central.

Adam Conley will try to steer the Fish into another crucial victory. He faces the Reds for only the second time in his career. Last year, he went five innings and allowed two earned runs and five hits, but got the win. In his last start, a win over the Braves, he didn't allow one hit over six innings.

The Reds will go with John Lamb, who will try to provide the Reds with some kind of lifeline. This may be difficult, considering he's lost his last three starts and nine of his last twelve. He's never faced the Marlins, and in his start against the Nationals on July 3rd, he managed only 4 1/3 innings and allowed eight hits as well as eight earned runs, including three home runs, in a lopsided loss.

Pitching Matchup

Notes

-Brandon Phillips is starting despite leaving last night's game with a hairline fracture in his left hand. He had one hit and one strikeout in the loss and is batting .256.

-Just announced, Marcell Ozuna will start in his first All-Star game as a result of Fowler and Cespedes being scratched.

Bold Prediction: Conley goes seven and the Fish win, 6-2.