The Miami Marlins will look to turn things around when they begin a three-game road series with the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.
Miami has lost six games in a row and nine out of ten overall. The Marlins are 20-39 and are currently the worst team in the National League. Miami had been playing better a few weeks ago, but has struggled mightily in all aspects of the game since.
Jose Urena has had plenty of bad luck this season and will hope for better results on Tuesday. Urena is 0-7, but he has pitched far better than that. Urena has four quality starts this year and the Marlins have failed to back him up with run support. The right-hander has a 4.41 E.R.A and he has improved that statistic in each month so far.
Wei-Yin Chen only lasted 1.2 innings in his last start and he will need to give Miami more innings on Wednesday. Chen had been pitching better prior to that short outing and now has a 6.10 E.R.A in 2018. Chen's struggles earlier this season revolved around the home run ball and that has become an issue once again. Chen has now allowed eight home runs in seven starts this season.
Elieser Hernandez is still looking for his first big-league win and he will get another opportunity on Thursday. Hernandez is 0-3 with a 4.29 E.R.A and he is coming off the worst start of his career. Hernandez allowed five runs in three innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks on June 1st. Prior to that outing, the rookie had a solid 2.50 E.R.A in 2018.
Miami allowed 21 runs in Arizona and only scored four times in the three games. The Marlins also had low run totals in San Diego last week and will need to find some production in the lineup. Rookie Lewis Brinson homered during the trip, but he is still hitting only .162 this season.
Miami's bullpen has also been a problem as of late and it has coughed up the few leads the team has been able to possess. The Marlins made a change in terms of closing games, but the middle relievers have let the team down as well.
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Tuesday's first pitch is scheduled for 8:15 p.m.
