Miami Marlins (52-66) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (81-36)
It is the opening contest of a three-game set on Friday when the Miami Marlins take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Miami took two of three from the San Diego Padres at the beginning of this week. The Marlins are now 3-7 in their last 10 and are 24.0 games out of the NL East Division and 13.0 games behind for the final wildcard spot.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have the best record in baseball and are 7-3 in their last 10. The Dodgers just split a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers, dropping Thursday’s affair, 5-3. The Dodgers are 16.5 games ahead of San Diego in the NL West and hold a 5.5-game edge over the Mets for the top record in the National League.
The Dodgers are the decisive favorites at -27 0 with the line set for the Marlins at +200. When giving up 1.5 runs, Los Angeles is at -120 while Miami is that +100 when receiving 1.5 runs. The total is set at 8.0 (over: +100, under: -120). This is the first meeting between these clubs this season. The Marlins went 4-3 against the Dodgers last year.
The Miami Marlins may be all but eliminated from playoff contention, but this is an outstanding pitching staff. The group is 12th overall with a 3.82 ERA, and have pitched well since the All-Star break, posting a 3.95 ERA. However, a lack of run production has hurt this club, as they are just 9-18 since the break.
final. pic.twitter.com/HfzwSEFATZ
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) August 17, 2022
Clearly, the pitching staff has been doing their jobs, but this offense has completely collapsed since the break. Miami is 27th in runs scored per game (3.79), but have produced just 69 runs in their last 27 games, an average of 2.56 runs per contest. They have a .225 batting average and a .288 on-base percentage during that span, producing only 64 extra-base hits. It is not surprising why this club is completely out of contention.
With that kind of production, the success of this team is contingent upon how their starting pitcher performs. Jesus Luzardo is 3-5 with a 3.72 ERA in nine starts this season. Luzardo had been out since the middle of May, but has returned in August and pitched very well. In three starts, he has allowed six runs in 17.0 innings, but did give up four runs in five innings in his last start (August 13).