As the final series of the season approaches, two teams facing disappointing outcomes prepare to battle it out on Friday. The Miami Marlins (58-100, 5th NL East) travel to meet the Toronto Blue Jays (74-85, 5th AL East). Miami recently suffered an 8-3 defeat against the Minnesota Twins, marking their 100th loss of the season and their third defeat in four games. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays snapped a five-game losing streak with a 6-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox. Both teams find themselves at the bottom of their respective divisions, with Miami missing nine pitchers and Toronto without two pitchers, as well as key position players Daulton Varsho, Bo Bichette, and Will Wagner.
This article was drafted before Miami’s Thursday game.
Miami’s Struggles at the Plate and on the Mound
The Miami Marlins continue to grapple with offensive and pitching challenges. They rank 17th in batting average (.242), 25th in slugging percentage (.375), and are near the bottom in runs scored with 603 and on-base percentage at .298. Jake Burger leads the team in home runs with 29 and RBIs at 72, while Jesus Sanchez follows with 18 home runs and 63 RBIs. The Marlins have recorded 233 doubles, 20 triples, and 146 home runs, totaling 399 extra-base hits across 158 games.
On the pitching front, Miami ranks 27th in batting average allowed (.258), 28th in WHIP (1.39), and 29th in ERA (4.80). They are last in Quality Starts with only 28. Anthony Bender leads the team with five wins, and Edward Cabrera holds the strikeout record at 107. Adam Oller, scheduled to pitch on Friday, has a record of 1-4, with an ERA of 5.06, 33 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.47.
Toronto’s Offensive Struggles and Slightly Better Pitching
The Toronto Blue Jays have also found it difficult to produce runs. They are currently 13th in on-base percentage (.314) and 16th in batting average (.242). Their slugging percentage stands at 20th (.391), and they have scored 664 runs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the standout player, boasting an impressive batting average of .325, 30 home runs, and 102 RBIs. George Springer contributes with 19 home runs and 56 RBIs. The Blue Jays have accumulated 278 doubles, 26 triples, and 154 home runs, resulting in 458 extra-base hits in 159 games.
On the pitching side, Toronto ranks 6th in Quality Starts (68), 17th in batting average allowed (.241), 20th in WHIP (1.27), and 21st in ERA (4.21). Jose Berrios, who is set to start on Friday, leads the team with 16 wins and an ERA of 3.38. Chris Bassitt is the strikeout leader with 168. Berrios holds a record of 16-10, with 149 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.13.
Betting Insights for Miami Marlins vs. Toronto Blue Jays
Miami’s recent form has seen them lose 11 of their last 15 games. The Marlins rank 25th in slugging percentage, 28th in runs scored, and 29th in on-base percentage. Their pitching statistics are even more concerning, with Miami standing 27th in batting average allowed, 29th in ERA, and last in Quality Starts. Their struggles culminated in a loss of 100 games as of Wednesday’s defeat to Minnesota. Adam Oller has struggled in his last four outings, giving up 26 hits and 15 runs in just 21 innings, leading to losses in each of those games. Overall, Miami has lost six of Oller’s seven appearances this season.
On the other hand, Toronto’s Jose Berrios has been impressive, recording eight consecutive starts allowing two earned runs or fewer, including four starts with one earned run or less. Since August 1, Berrios has improved his ERA from 4.11 to 3.39, ranking 18th in the majors, while his WHIP stands as the 19th best at 1.13.
