Marlins vs. Reds Series Preview

It’s been dismal. After being swept by the Braves, the Miami Marlins hit the road for a series against the Cincinnati Reds. The Marlins are last in their division; the Reds are fighting for an NL Wild Card spot.

This series preview will give you all the details:

• Schedule, Watch, Listen
• Probable Pitchers
• Recent Lineups
• What To Watch For

Schedule, Watch, Listen

Thursday, August 19 at 7:10 pm

Friday, August 20 at 7:10 pm

Saturday, August 21 at 6:40 pm

Sunday, August 22 at 1:10 pm

• TV broadcast for all 3 games: Bally Sports Florida
• Radio broadcast for all 3 games: 940 AM WINZ, WAQI 710
• Thursday’s game is also available on MLB Network for out-of-market fans.

Grid View

• Nick Neidert, Marlins starting pitcher on Thursday Photo by Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports
• Luis Castillo, Reds starting pitcher on Thursday Photo by Kyle Ross/USA TODAY Sports
• Elieser Hernandez, Marlins starting pitcher on Friday Photo by Rhona Wise/USA TODAY Sports
• Sonny Gray, Reds starting pitcher on Friday Photo by Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports
• Zach Thompson, Marlins starting pitcher on Saturday Photo by Orlando Ramirez/USA TODAY Sports
• Wade Miley, Reds starting pitcher on Saturday Photo by David Kohl/USA TODAY Sports
• Sandy Alcantara, Marlins starting pitcher on Sunday Photo by Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports
• Vladimir Gutierrez, Reds starting pitcher on Sunday Photo by Meg Vogel/Imagn Content Services, LLC

Probable Pitchers

Thursday: RHP Nick Neidert vs. RHP Luis Castillo

• Neidert: 4.11 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 14.7 K%, 38.5 HardHit% in 30.2 IP
• Castillo: 4.51 ERA, 1.409 WHIP, 23.0 K%, 38.6 HardHit% in 137.2 IP

Friday: RHP Elieser Hernandez vs. RHP Sonny Gray

• Hernandez: 2.84 ERA, 0.789 WHIP, 26.5 K%, 32.4 HardHit% in 12.2 IP
• Gray: 4.47 ERA, 1.390 WHIP, 28.5 K%, 32.6 HardHit% in 90.2 IP

Saturday: RHP Zach Thompson vs. LHP Wade Miley

• Thompson: 2.91 ERA, 1.120 WHIP, 22.2 K%, 37.7 HardHit% in 52.2 IP
• Miley: 2.84 ERA, 1.211 WHIP, 18.9 K%, 34.3 HardHit% in 133.0 IP

Sunday: RHP Sandy Alcantara vs. RHP Vladimir Gutierrez

• Alcantara: 3.39 ERA, 1.137 WHIP, 21.7 K%, 38.3 HardHit% in 151.1 IP
• Gutierrez: 3.87 ERA, 1.349 WHIP, 17.8 K%, 37.5 HardHit% in 86.0 IP

Recent Lineups

Baseball-Reference.com

Baseball-Reference.com

What to watch for on...

Thursday: Reds starter Luis Castillo.

• Castillo got off to a rough start and finished the month of May with seven straight losses, but he’s turned it around and has been pretty dominant since June.
• Through his first 11 starts, he held a 7.22 ERA with opposing batters hitting .321. Since then, he’s been much better. If you remove his Aug. 7 start against Cleveland (3.1 IP with 8 ER), he’s held a 2.09 ERA with opposing batters hitting .199.

Photo by Albert Cesare/The Enquirer via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Friday: Jonathan India, NL Rookie of the Year candidate.

• I’ve highlighted a bunch of South Florida natives lately. India, born in Fort Lauderdale and a graduate of American Heritage High School, is this series’ local player. Nick Castellanos, born in Hialeah and a graduate of Archbishop McCarthy High School, is another South Florida local.
• India seemingly came out of nowhere and hit the gas pedal in June, pushing himself into the NL Rookie of the Year conversation. Coming into this series, he’s slashing .277/.390/.466 with 21 doubles and 16 home runs. When adjusted, his OPS is 18% better than league average.

Saturday: Lewis Brinson vs. left-hander Wade Miley.

• Brinson vs. LH SP in 2021: .317/.359/.567.
• Brinson has cooled off over the last week, going hitless against the Braves. However, Brinson has shined against left-handed starting pitchers this season. When he puts the ball in play (BABIP), he’s hitting .421. Miley has been good this season, but this could be an opportunity for Brinson to get back on track.

Sunday: Sandy Alcantara.

• Despite Sandy’s gem on Tuesday (8.0 IP, 1 R, 5 H, 1 BB, 7 K), the Marlins couldn’t score a run.
• Run support has been a theme throughout the whole season. Among pitchers with 15 starts this season, Alcantara receives the 4th-lowest runs support with about 3.12 runs per game. Four hits and no runs last Tuesday doesn’t cut it when your pitcher goes eight strong with only one run allowed. Hopefully the Marlins can pick it up on Sunday for their ace.