The Miami Marlins (10-9) take one of the least productive offenses in the league on the road to face the Cleveland Guardians (10-9) at Progressive Field on Friday for the first of a three-game Interleague series.
The Marlins are playing their first of seven games on the road after closing out a productive six-game homestand (4-2). They won two out of three in their last series against the Giants, dropping the finale 5-2 on Wednesday at loanDepot park.
Garrett Hampson was 2 for 4 with one run. The Guardians are playing the first of six games at home after returning from a six-game road trip (3-3). They lost three of four against the Tigers in their last series, taking the finale 3-2 on Wednesday at Comerica Park.
Jose Ramirez went 1 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs. The teams are meeting for the first time since May 1, 2019, when the Marlins avoided a two-game series sweep with a 4-2 win at loanDepot park.
ON THE MOUND
Braxton Garrett (0-0, 3.38 ERA) is slated to start for Miami. The southpaw allowed one run over 5.2 innings in his last start, a 3-2 road win over the Diamondbacks on Saturday. He yielded four hits while striking out five and walking one in the no-decision.
RHP Zach Plesac (1-0, 6.92 ERA) will toe the rubber for Cleveland. In his last start on Saturday, Plesac got the win on the road against the Nationals. He threw five innings and gave up four runs (2 ER) on seven hits, striking out one, in the 6-4 triumph.
AT THE PLATE
The Miami offense is averaging 3.1 runs per game for the season, second lowest in the league, with a slash line of .249/.305/.383. Luis Arraez leads the team in OPS at 1.071. The third baseman is slashing .438/.493/.578 with one home run, seven RBIs, and seven runs over 18 games.
Against right-handed pitchers like Plesac this season, the Fish have a .678 OPS. Arraez also is the team’s most potent producer against right-handers with a 1.180 OPS in 49 at-bats.
Cleveland is slashing .231/.319/.347 for the season and averaging 4.2 runs per game. Ramirez leads the team with ann .827 OPS. The shortstop has two home runs, 12 RBIs, and 10 runs scored with a slash line of .270/.368/.459.
The Guardians have a .666 OPS against southpaws in 2023. With a 1.217 OPS over 12 at-bats, Mike Zunino has been their best hitter against left-handers.
HOME AND AWAY
Miami is 3-3 away from loanDepot park in 2023, scoring 4.3 runs per game while allowing 6.2 runs. Cleveland has gone 2-4 at their home park this season, averaging 3.3 runs per game while surrendering 5.2. Cleveland is 6-4 in the last 10 games at Progressive Field between the teams with an average scoreline of 4.3-2.8.
SportsTips’ MLB Pick:
Cleveland Guardians (-135)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
