Marlins Week at a Glance: Opening Week

We finally made it through the winter. Opening day is only one day away!

To get you ready for the first week of the season, I introduce you to my new weekly column: “Marlins Week at a Glance.” Prior to each week during the regular season, I will compile stats, notes, and tidbits for the Marlins upcoming week.

The Marlins have a tough draw for Opening Week. They will have their hands full with the two teams that have finished atop of the division the past two seasons. The Marlins start their regular season in our nation’s capital taking on Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals. They do catch a break with Max Scherzer not being ready to pitch until Friday, however Gio Gonzalez also has a strong track record against the Fish.

The week will wrap up in Flushing, New York where the Marlins will face one of the best pitchers in baseball; Noah Syndergaard. Their Sunday showdown with the Mets will be broadcast on ESPN.

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Monday, April 3rd 2017, 1:05 PM | at Washington Nationals | TV: FOX Sports Florida

Marlins Probable Pitcher: Edinson Volquez, RHP

Volquez 2016 Stats – (10-11), 189 IP, 5.37 ERA, 4.57 FIP, 6.61 K/9, 3.61 BB/9

Volquez 2017 Spring Training – 14.1 IP, 3.77 ERA, 6 K, 7 BB

Volquez Career vs Nationals – (2-3), 40.1 IP, 4.24 ERA, 37 K, 17 BB

Notes:

• This will be Volquez's fifth career Opening Day start with his fourth different team ('17 Mia, '16 KC, '13 SD, '12 SD, '11 Cin)
• Daniel Murphy is 8-for-18 (.444) lifetime vs Volquez

Nationals Probable Pitcher: Stephen Strasburg, RHP

Strasburg 2016 Stats – (15-4), 147.2 IP, 3.60 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 11.15 K/9, 2.68 BB/9

Strasburg 2017 Spring Training – 16.1 IP, 6.61 ERA, 14 K, 3 BB

Strasburg Career vs Marlins – (12-7), 136 IP, 3.51 ERA, 139 K, 42 BB

Notes:

• This will be Strasburg's fourth Opening Day assignment
• Giancarlo Stanton is 7-for-38 (.184) lifetime vs Strasburg with 3 HR
• Marcel Ozuna is 10-for-28 (.357) lifetime vs Strasburg with 2 HR

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Wednesday, April 5th 2017, 7:05 PM | at Washington Nationals | TV: FOX Sports Florida

Marlins Probable Pitcher: Dan Straily, RHP

Straily 2016 Stats - (14-8), 191.1 IP, 3.76 ERA, 4.88 FIP, 7.62 K/9, 3.43 BB/9

Straily 2017 Spring Training - 17.2 IP, 4.58 ERA, 17 K, 1 BB

Straily Career vs Nationals - (0-0), 14 IP, 3.21 ERA, 7 K, 5 BB

Notes:

• Matt Wieters is 3-for-4 lifetime vs Straily with two HR
• Daniel Murphy, Bryce Harper, Jayson Werth are a combined 0-for-19 vs Straily

Nationals Probable Pitcher: Tanner Roark, RHP

Roark 2016 Stats - (16-10), 210 IP, 2.83 ERA, 3.79 FIP, 7.37 K/9, 3.13 BB/9

Roark 2017 Spring Training - 12.1 IP, 0.73 ERA, 12 K, 0 BB

Roark Career vs Marlins - (4-8), 77.2 IP, 3.82 ERA, 58 K, 26 BB

Notes:

• Roark compiled a 4.46 ERA in 6 starts vs the Marlins in 2016
• Justin Bour is 4-for-22 (.182) lifetime vs Roark with 2 HR

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Thursday, April 6th 2017, 4:05 PM | at Washington Nationals | TV: FOX Sports Florida, MLB Network

Marlins Probable Pitcher: Tom Koehler

Koehler 2016 Stats - (9-13), 176.2 IP, 4.33 ERA, 4.60 FIP, 7.49 K/9, 4.23 BB/9

Koehler 2017 Spring Training - 17.1 IP, 4.67 ERA, 18 K, 9 BB

Koehler Career vs Nationals - (4-8), 78.1 IP, 4.60 ERA, 53 K, 37 BB

Notes:

• Bryce Harper is 11-for-32 (.344) lifetime vs Koehler with 6 HR
• Ryan Zimmerman is 8-for-27 (.296) lifetime vs Koehler with 3 HR

Nationals Probable Pitcher: Gio Gonzalez

Gonzalez 2016 Stats - (11-11), 177.1 IP, 4.57 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 8.68 K/9, 2.99 BB/9

Gonzalez 2017 Spring Training - 23 IP, 2.74 ERA, 15 K, 6 BB

Gonzalez Career vs Marlins - (6-3), 69.1 IP, 2.21 ERA, 73 K, 18 BB

Notes:

• In his only start vs Miami in 2016, Gonzalez went five scoreless innings with 7 K
• Marcell Ozuna is 1-for-9 (.111) lifetime vs Gonzalez

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Friday, April 7th 2017, 7:10 PM | at New York Mets | TV: FOX Sports Florida

Marlins Probable Pitcher: Wei-Yin Chen

Chen 2016 Stats - (5-5), 123.1 IP, 4.96 ERA, 4.50 FIP, 7.30 K/9, 1.75 BB/9

Chen 2017 Spring Training - 19 IP, 3.32 ERA, 14 K, 3 BB

Chen Career vs Mets - (1-0), 7 IP, 1.29 ERA, 5 K, 1 BB

Notes:

• Chen’s 4.48 ERA road ERA in 2016 was a full run better than at home
• Asdrubal Cabrera is 2-for-19 (.105) lifetime vs Chen

Mets Probable Pitcher: Zack Wheeler

Wheeler 2016 Stats - N/A (Recovering from Tommy John surgery)

Wheeler 2017 Spring Training - 12.1 IP, 5.11 ERA, 7 K, 7 K

Wheeler Career vs Marlins - (2-0), 39.1 IP, 1.37 ERA, 44 K, 16 BB

Notes:

• First start since September 25th, 2014
• Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna, and Adeiny Hechavarria are a combined 7-for-57 (.123) lifetime vs Wheeler

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Saturday, April 8th 2017, 7:10 PM | at New York Mets | TV: FOX Sports Florida, MLB Network

Marlins Probable Pitcher: Adam Conley

Conley 2016 Stats - (8-6), 133.1 IP, 3.85 ERA, 4.20 FIP, 8.37 K/9, 4.19 BB/9

Conley 2017 Spring Training - 15.2 IP, 5.17 ERA, 10 K, 5 BB

Conley Career vs Mets - (1-0), 24.1 IP, 1.11 ERA, 22 K, 4 BB

Notes:

• Yoenis Cespedes is 1-for-11 (.091) lifetime vs Conley
• Wilmer Flores, Curtis Granderson, and Travis d’Arnaud are all 1-8 (.125) lifetime vs Conley

Mets Probable Pitcher: Noah Syndergaard

Syndergaard 2016 Stats - (14-9), 183.2 IP, 2.60 ERA, 2.29 FIP, 10.68 K/9, 2.11 BB/9

Syndergaard 2017 Spring Training - 13.2 IP, 2.63 ERA, 11 K, 4 BB

Syndergaard Career vs Marlins - (2-0), 20 IP, 1.80 ERA, 29 K, 2 BB

Notes:

• Giancarlo Stanton is 0-for-8 lifetime vs Syndergaard with 5 K
• Justin Bour is 4-for-8 (.500) lifetime vs Syndergaard

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Sunday, April 9th 2017, 8:00 PM | at New York Mets | TV: ESPN

Marlins Probable Pitcher: Edinson Volquez

Volquez 2016 Stats – (10-11), 189 IP, 5.37 ERA, 4.57 FIP, 6.61 K/9, 3.61 BB/9

Volquez 2017 Spring Training – 14.1 IP, 3.77 ERA, 6 K, 7 BB

Volquez Career vs Mets - (3-5), 48.2 IP, 4.99 ERA, 47 K, 29 BB

Notes:

• Threw 6 innings of no-run ball vs the Mets on Opening Day 2016
• Jose Reyes is 8-for-12 (.667) lifetime vs Volquez
• Jay Bruce is 8-for-16 (.500) lifetime vs his former teammate

Mets Probable Pitcher: Robert Gsellman

Gsellman 2016 Stats - (4-2), 44.2 IP, 2.42 ERA, 2.63 FIP, 8.46 K/9, 3.02 K/9

Gsellman 2017 Spring Training - 23.1 IP, 2.31 ERA, 15 K, 5 BB

Gsellman Career vs Marlins - N/A (First Start vs Miami)

Notes:

• Made his MLB debut on August 23rd, 2016 in St. Louis
• Ranked as the 76th best prospect in baseball according to Keith Law