The Miami Marlins (53-89, 5th NL East) are set to visit the Steel City, facing off against the Pittsburgh Pirates (66-76, 5th NL Central) in a three-game series starting Monday. Both teams have been eliminated from postseason contention, with Pittsburgh trailing the final wildcard spot in the National League by 12 games. Miami recently broke a two-game losing streak with a 9-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Meanwhile, the Pirates suffered an 8-6 defeat against the Washington Nationals, resulting in a doubleheader sweep. Miami enters this matchup missing 11 pitchers and position players Dany Myers, Vidal Brujan, and Derek Hill. Pittsburgh will be without six pitchers and position players Ke’Bryan Hayes and Endy Rodriguez.
This article was written prior to the teams’ Sunday game.
Marlins Struggling Offensively and on the Mound
The Miami Marlins are currently 18th in batting average at .240 and rank poorly in several offensive categories, including 25th in slugging percentage (.373) and 29th in both on-base percentage (.296) and runs scored (539). Jake Burger leads the team with 25 home runs and 60 RBIs, while Jesus Sanchez follows with 17 home runs and 59 RBIs. The Marlins have recorded 208 doubles, 18 triples, and 131 home runs this season, totaling 357 extra-base hits across 142 games.
On the pitching side, Miami ranks 27th in batting average allowed (.258) and 30th in Quality Starts (26). Anthony Bender holds the team’s highest win total with four, and Edward Cabrera leads in strikeouts with 84. Valene Bellozo will take the mound for Miami on Monday; he has a record of 2-2 with an ERA of 3.78, 33 strikeouts, and a 1.28 WHIP this season.
Pirates Show Slight Improvement on the Mound
The Pittsburgh Pirates rank 21st in runs scored (600) and 23rd in batting average (.235). They also fall behind in on-base percentage (26th, .302) and slugging percentage (27th, .370). Bryan Reynolds leads the Pirates in home runs with 22, RBIs with 79, and hits with 153. Oneil Cruz and Andrew McCutchen each have 18 home runs, with Cruz contributing 69 RBIs. Pittsburgh has a total of 360 extra-base hits this season from 206 doubles, 16 triples, and 138 home runs.
On the pitching front, Pittsburgh ranks 7th in Quality Starts (60) and holds a 19th place in ERA (4.18). Mitch Keller leads the team with 11 wins and 153 strikeouts, holding the lowest ERA among starting pitchers at 3.85. On Monday, Paul Skenes will start for the Pirates; he has an impressive record of 9-2 with a 2.13 ERA and 142 strikeouts this season.
Best Bets for Miami Marlins vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
Miami has lost 11 of its last 18 games. The two teams have faced each other four times this season, with Pittsburgh winning every matchup. Marlins starter Valene Bellozo has struggled recently, allowing 11 runs in 14.2 innings over two of his last three starts. In contrast, Paul Skenes has excelled, giving up only four earned runs over his last 22 innings pitched while leading Pittsburgh to three victories during that period. Miami ranks second to last in runs scored, while their ERA places them at the bottom of the league. Pittsburgh has shown slight improvement, ranking 21st in runs scored and 19th in team ERA. Skenes has won three of his last four starts against competitive teams, including victories over Seattle, Cincinnati, and the Chicago Cubs.
