Marlins vs. Orioles: Start time, how to watch, game thread and Fish Picks—August 4, 2020

Welcome to Tuesday’s Marlins (2-1) vs. Orioles (5-3) game thread. The Fish still find themselves atop the NL East standings—at least in terms of winning percentage—following a nine-day, COVID-19 related layoff. Perhaps even more surprising, the rebuilding O’s enter this four-game set playing solid all-around baseball.

Fish Picks is BACK and better than ever! Our free-to-play daily prop bets contest is open to all fans. I was thrilled to see so many participants during the season-opening series against the Phillies. Courtesy of a new Fish Stripes partnership with Fantom Drip, weekly points leaders will win their choice of a Marlins face covering (five different varieties available). First winner to be selected based on July 24-August 9 point totals.

Florida Marlins Teal Face Cover

• $12

• $12 at Fantom Drip

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

Marlins Lineup

1. SS Jonathan Villar
2. 2B Jon Berti
3. 1B Jesús Aguilar
4. LF Corey Dickerson
5. 3B Brian Anderson
6. DH Logan Forsythe
7. C Francisco Cervelli
8. RF Lewis Brinson
9. CF Monte Harrison

P Pablo Lopez (2019 stats: 5.09 ERA, 4.28 FIP, 20.3 K%, 36.9 Hard Hit% in 111.1 IP)

Baseball Savant

Notes: Miguel Rojas (positive for COVID-19) led a candid conversation with teammates Sandy Alcantara (positive), Jorge Alfaro (positive), Corey Dickerson (negative) and Brandon Kintzler (negative) on his show The Clubhouse regarding recent events...Villar has a .254/.324/.436 slash line with 20 home runs and 26 steals in 115 career games at Camden Yards...Prior to the game, I joined Locked On Orioles host and Fish Stripes alum Connor Newcomb to preview this bizarre yet meaningful series. Check out the episode wherever you get your podcasts (apologies for the poor audio quality)...The Marlins enter Tuesday as the MLB leaders in slugging percentage (.495) and weighted runs created-plus (134). Juan Páez has more stats to illustrate how well the club was playing before the outbreak.

Orioles Lineup

1. 2B Hanser Alberto
2. RF Anthony Santander
3. 3B Renato Núñez
4. DH Dwight Smith Jr.
5. CF Austin Hays
6. 1B Chris Davis
7. C Pedro Severino
8. LF DJ Stewart
9. SS Andrew Velazquez

P John Means (2019 stats: 3.60 ERA, 4.41 FIP, 19.0 K%, 30.7 Hard Hit% in 155.0 IP)

Baseball Savant

Notes: Means’ rookie campaign was among the few bright spots on the 2019 Orioles. He has boosted his fastball velocity since then, though some regression is likely anyway if he doesn’t change his extreme fly ball tendencies.

How to watch/listen/follow

The game was scheduled to get underway at 7:35 p.m. ET, but has been pushed back to 8:15 p.m. Watch on FOX Sports Florida and via MLB.TV or listen on 940 WINZ. All Marlins team broadcasters will remain in South Florida, calling the game remotely.

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 will be leading after five innings? (Marlins/Orioles)
2. Over/Under 8.5 total runs scored? (Over/Under)
3. Over/Under 4.5 Marlins pitchers used? (Over/Under)
4. Will Monte Harrison get a hit? (Yes/No)
5. Who wins? (Marlins/Orioles)