Marlins vs. Reds: Game Thread 121

After missing his spot in the rotation Jose Fernandez (12-6) will look to continue his run towards the NL strikeout crown. Fernandez is facing the Reds for the fifth time in his career, he is 2-1 with a 2.52 ERA in those five starts. Fernandez will need to stay cautious because the despite the Reds' bad record they have been batting .269 since the All-Star break. Also while being nearly unhittable at home this season (9-2 record) Fernandez is bit more vulnerable on the road (3-4 record). The Marlins have also dropped his last three starts, the longest winless streak of Fernandez's career.

The Reds will be sending Dan Straily (8-6) to the mound to take on Fernandez.. Straily has produced quality starts in seven of his last eight outings, the Reds have won all six of his starts since the All Star break. Opponents are hitting .215 off Straily, he also has not walked a batter in his last sixteen innings of work.

The Marlins will have all hands on deck because a number of Reds are returning from injury. While Brandon Phillips came back in a big way on Wednesday outfielders Adam Duvall and Billy Hamilton are both returning tonight. The Marlins cannot afford to lose this one, after dropping two of the first three to the Reds, the Marlins are now two games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the first wildcard and are one game back of the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second wildcard.

Notes:

- In his five second half starts Fernandez is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA

- In their previous meeting Christian Yelich went 2-2 with home run off Straily

- Fernandez and Straily faced off against each other on July eighth, the Marlins won the game 3-1.

Bold Prediction: the Marlins squeak by the Reds 5-3