Miami Marlins vs Arizona Diamondbacks Picks and Predictions August 20th 2024

At 6:40 PM ET, the Diamondbacks and Marlins face off in an NL matchup. This one is taking place at loanDepot Park in Miami, and the Diamondbacks are the heavy favorites on the money line, with their line sitting at -159 compared to the Marlins at +133. The over/under line is currently 7.5 runs.

Edward Cabrera is starting for the Marlins, and he will be facing off against Eduardo Rodriguez. Arizona is currently 3rd in the NL West, and they have a record of 70-56, while the Marlins are 5th in the NL East with a record of 46-79.

Eduardo Rodriguez will be making his 3rd start of the season for the Diamondbacks, and he will be on the road against the Marlins. In his first start of the season, he picked up a win vs. the Guardians, going 5 2/3 innings and striking out 4. He didn’t factor into the decision in his last start, as he gave up 3 runs in 5 innings vs. the Rockies.

Arizona comes into the game as the top-scoring team in the league, averaging 5.3 runs per contest. They have been even better at home, putting up 5.5 runs per game. The Diamondbacks have been one of the league’s most patient teams at the plate, as they are 4th in walks and have the 2nd best on-base percentage in the league. Arizona’s offense has also been good at avoiding strikeouts, as they are 7th in the league in this category.

Christian Walker and Ketel Marte have been the team’s top power hitters this season, with Marte’s 30 homers leading the team and Walker sitting in 2nd with 23 homers. Walker is also 2nd on the team with 71 RBIs. Over his last six games, Jake McCarthy is hitting .348, and he has driven in five runs over that stretch. Adrian Del Castillo and Corbin Carroll have both struggled of late, with batting averages of .222 and .227, respectively.

Edward Cabrera will be looking to bounce back from a rough outing as he gets the start for the Marlins today. Against the Phillies on August 14th, he got the start and took the loss, giving up six earned runs in four innings of work. Looking back over his last three outings, Cabrera has finished with a no-decision, a win, and a loss. His ERA for the season is 5.76, along with a record of 2-4. Opposing batters are hitting .227 off Cabrera this season. So far, he has made 13 appearances and two of them have been quality starts.

As a team, the Marlins are averaging just 3.7 runs per game, which is the worst mark in the league. They are also near the bottom of the league in most other offensive categories, including on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS. Miami’s team ISO of .128 is also 24th in the MLB. One thing that has gone well for the Marlins offense is that they are 10th in the league in batting average on balls in play.

Jake Burger has been swinging a hot bat for the Marlins, going 10/32 in his last eight games with four homers. For the season, he is hitting .248 with a team-high 55 RBIs and 24 homers. Jesús Sánchez is also near the top of the Marlins’ home run leaderboard, with 15 homers, but he is batting just .238 for the season.

Adrian Del Castillo Shines in Hometown Debut

Arizona Diamondbacks rookie catcher Adrian Del Castillo is quickly becoming a name to watch, especially after his stellar performance on Monday night in Miami. Playing his first Major League game in his hometown, Del Castillo blasted a grand slam and drove in a career-high six runs, leading Arizona to a 9-6 victory over the Miami Marlins. As the Diamondbacks gear up for the second game of their three-game series on Tuesday night, all eyes are on whether Del Castillo can keep up his hot streak.

Del Castillo’s Impact: A Rising Star

Since joining the Diamondbacks, Adrian Del Castillo has been nothing short of impressive. The team is 7-2 when he’s in the lineup, and his stats back up his impact: a .333 batting average, a 1.072 OPS, three home runs, and 14 RBIs in those nine games. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo has been full of praise for the 24-year-old University of Miami product, applauding his rapid development and crucial contributions during the team’s playoff push.

Pitching Matchup: Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Edward Cabrera

Tuesday’s game will feature an interesting pitching duel between Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez and Miami’s Edward Cabrera.

Eduardo Rodriguez, a 31-year-old veteran from Venezuela, is looking to build on a strong start with the Diamondbacks after missing much of the season due to a shoulder injury. Rodriguez signed a four-year, $80 million contract with Arizona in December but didn’t make his debut until August 7. Despite the late start, he’s helped the Diamondbacks to a 2-0 record in his outings. However, his only career start against the Marlins was a tough one in 2015, when he allowed eight runs in five-plus innings while pitching for the Boston Red Sox.

Edward Cabrera, a 26-year-old Dominican right-hander, will be on the mound for the Marlins. Cabrera has had a rollercoaster season, with a 2-4 record and a 5.76 ERA. He’s been notably better at home, boasting a 4.11 ERA compared to 8.14 on the road. August has been his strongest month so far, with a 3.38 ERA in three starts. However, Cabrera struggled in his only previous outing against Arizona, allowing four runs and issuing four walks in just 3 1/3 innings back in May.

Marlins: Dealing with Injuries and Roster Changes

The Marlins are navigating through a tough stretch, dealing with injuries and roster changes that have shaken up their lineup. Key players like two-time batting champion Luis Arraez, All-Star closer Tanner Scott, and others such as Trevor Rogers, Josh Bell, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Bryan De La Cruz are currently sidelined. In their absence, the Marlins have turned to a mix of rookies and less experienced players.

One rookie who might be turning the corner is outfielder Kyle Stowers. After a rough start with a .096 average in his first 16 games since being acquired from the Baltimore Orioles, Stowers went 3-for-4 on Monday, earning praise from Marlins manager Skip Schumaker.

Diamondbacks’ Injury Concerns

While Del Castillo is bringing a spark to the lineup, the Diamondbacks are also dealing with their own injury troubles. Star second baseman Ketel Marte was placed on the injured list Monday due to a sprained left ankle, which is a significant blow to Arizona’s lineup. Marte originally hurt his ankle on August 10 and had only appeared in three games since then before re-injuring it on Sunday. To fill the roster spot, the Diamondbacks recalled Pavin Smith from Triple-A Reno, though Smith went 0-for-3 with two walks and a run in Monday’s game.

Can Del Castillo Keep the D-backs Rolling?

As the Diamondbacks take the field on Tuesday night, Adrian Del Castillo will look to continue his hot streak and help Arizona secure another crucial win in their playoff chase. With Eduardo Rodriguez on the mound and the Marlins struggling with injuries, the Diamondbacks have a solid opportunity to build momentum. However, Miami’s young talent, including a potentially resurgent Kyle Stowers, could pose a challenge.

This matchup promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams battling through adversity and counting on their young stars to step up. Fans can expect a competitive game as the Diamondbacks aim to keep their postseason hopes alive and the Marlins strive to find stability in a season full of challenges.

Today’s Diamondbacks and Marlins game should feature plenty of offense, as this is projected to be the 9th highest-scoring game of today’s league slate. For an over/under pick, we would be leaning towards the over. As for who is going to take this one straight up, we like the Diamondbacks to come out on top. Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez is 7th among today’s starters in projected strikeouts.