Marlins vs. Twins: Start time, how to watch, game thread and Fish Picks—August 1, 2019

Welcome to Thursday’s Twins (66-41) vs. Marlins (41-65) game thread.

Throughout the 2019 season, Fish Stripes is your home for daily Fish Picks prop bets. The monthly points leader for July, August, etc. wins Fish Stripes merchandise prizes. We’re also saving something special for the overall full-season points leader. The best seller in our store: Caleb “KKKKKKKaleb” Smith shirts!

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Congratulations to our July 2019 winner, @dee_marlins! This was easily the most competitive month for the contest so far, with several of you in contention entering the final game. More of the same in August, hopefully.

The Fish Picks leaderboard will update daily to let you know where you stand.

Twins Lineup

1. RF Max Kepler
2. 2B Luis Arraez
3. SS Jorge Polanco
4. LF Eddie Rosario
5. 3B Miguel Sanó
6. C Jason Castro
7. 1B Ehire Adrianza
8. CF Byron Buxton
9. P Michael Pineda (4.30 ERA, 4.24 FIP, 21.9 K%, 37.7 Hard Hit% in 111.0 IP)

Notes: A lifetime American League player, Pineda has only one previous career start against the Marlins—6 ²⁄₃ innings of one-hit ball in 2015. His pure stuff now isn’t quite what it used to be back then, but the Dominican right-hander continues to fearlessly fill up the strike zone. Pineda has thrown 66.9% of his pitches for strikes this season (same as Gerrit Cole and Noah Syndergaard).

Baseball Savant

Marlins Lineup

1. SS Miguel Rojas
2. 3B Jon Berti
3. RF Brian Anderson
4. 1B Neil Walker
5. 2B Starlin Castro
6. LF Harold Ramirez
7. CF César Puello
8. C Bryan Holaday
9. P Jordan Yamamoto (3.64 ERA, 3.99 FIP, 24.4 K%, 43.1 Hard Hit% in 42.0 IP)

Notes: Last time that the Marlins were swept in any series at home was June 25-27 against the Nationals. They’ll need this win to avoid that fate...Right-hander Kyle Keller was recalled from Triple-A New Orleans to fill out the roster. Keller has a 4.73 ERA, 4.43 FIP and 1.21 WHIP in 51.1 IP with New Orleans and Jacksonville this season. Throughout his pro career, the 26-year-old has quietly and consistently posted elite strikeout rates. Also worth noting, though, his 31.7% ground ball rate in 2019 is the lowest among all Marlins minor leaguers (min. 50 IP)...With their trade deadline maneuvering, the Marlins farm system has achieved “elite” status, in my opinion. But what do they need to do from here to take advantage?

Marlins Communications

How to watch/listen/follow

The game gets underway at 12:10 p.m. ET. Watch on FOX Sports Florida and via MLB.TV or listen on 940 WINZ.

Thursday’s credentialed Fish Stripes writer is Brandon Liguori (@BrandonRLiguori).

Fish Picks

Please comment below or tweet to @fishstripes with your picks for the following props. The contest locks at first pitch.

1. Which team scores the last run of the game? (Twins/Marlins)
2. Over/Under 7.5 total pitchers used? (Over/Under)
3. Over/Under 0.5 Marlins home runs? (Over/Under)
4. Will Starlin Castro get a hit? (Yes/No)
5. Who wins? (Twins/Marlins)