The Miami Marlins (32-63) take on the Cincinnati Reds (47-49) in the finale of their three-game series on Sunday, July 14th, at 1:40 PM ET at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds are becoming moderate favorites to complete the sweep with a moneyline at -185.
The Marlins have lost their last five games and currently two straight against the Reds in this series. This will be their last chance at claiming a win before the All-Star break, so they need to buckle down. So far, they have allowed an average of 8.50 runs a game in this series.
Their defense has struggled lately, but they will move along with Trevor Rogers (1-9) as their starting pitcher. He currently averages a 4.82 ERA and has a WHIP of 1.59. Their team ERA is a bit unappealing at 4.62, which shows their consistent struggles on the mound.
They have also been lacking at the plate, but they have a few key players that stand out. One to look at is Bryan De La Cruz, who currently leads with 16 homers and 44 RBIs.
The Marlins average .233 at the start plate and give up .255 to opponents. This slightly negative ratio has appeared to haunt them this season.
The Reds have gone 4-1 over their last five games and have won their previous three. During this winning streak, they have averaged 8.33 runs a game and have scored at least five or more runs over their last five games.
Their defense has not been as strong, but their offense has allowed them to take over games. They will start Nick Lodolo (8-3), who has an ERA of 3.30 and a WHIP of 1.10. As a team, they average an ERA of 3.83.
Offense has not been an issue lately, as several players stand out on the roster. Jeimer Candelario leads with 16 homers, and Spencer Steer with 60 RBIs. Jonathan India leads with a .274 batting average but will likely miss this game due to an injury in Game 2 of this series.
The Reds have averaged .232 at the plate and have given up .237 to their opponents. This is slightly negative but closer than what the Marlins are averaging.
The upcoming showdown has odds offered through MyBookie, which shows the Reds favored to win once more. Looking at the probability of this happening, market insights show the Reds having a 67.2 percent chance.
The Marlins do not have what it takes to slow down the Reds or produce enough offense to outperform them. Look for the Reds to finish strong.
