The Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins are set to face off in a mid-August series with significant implications for the National League Wild Card race. Both teams have experienced fluctuating seasons and are looking to make a late-season push.
On the pitching front for Pittsburgh, Carmen Mlodzinski is scheduled to start. For the season, Mlodzinski has a 6-4 record with a 3.51 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. He has shown slightly better performance on the road, with a 3.10 ERA. However, Mlodzinski typically functions as an opener, rarely exceeding three innings in his recent outings. Marlins hitters have had limited success against him, going 0-for-4.
The Miami Marlins, currently 61-59, have been performing well at home. They will send Janson Junk to the mound. Junk's season statistics include a 5-7 record, a 4.63 ERA, and 62 strikeouts over 81.2 innings. His WHIP stands at 1.36. Junk generally pitches around five innings and has not allowed more than two earned runs in a start since late May, with the exception of a six-run outing in July. Pirates hitters are 3-for-8 against Junk.
The matchup is anticipated to be an offensive contest, with neither starting pitcher expected to pitch deep into the game. While Miami boasts a stronger bullpen, the betting prediction leans towards a higher score, suggesting the game will exceed eight runs. This outlook is influenced by the pitching matchups and the offensive capabilities of both teams as they vie for critical Wild Card positioning.