The Miami Marlins will try to end a seven-game losing streak when they host the New York Mets beginning on Friday.
Miami's record sits at 10-31 on the season, which is the worst mark in all of baseball. The Marlins have only won twice in May and they have been shut out in two straight contests. Over the last five games, Miami has put together five total runs and it continues to have the lowest run total in Major League Baseball.
Trevor Richards will start for the Marlins in the first game of the series, as he continues to chase his first victory of the year. Richards is 0-5 with a 4.46 E.R.A in 2019, though he has kept the Marlins in games on several occasions. In his lone appearance against New York this season, Richards gave Miami six innings of three-run ball. The right-hander was tagged with the loss, but it was one of his finer starts of the campaign.
Pablo Lopez will be seeking some revenge in his start on Saturday. Lopez surrendered ten runs in three innings against the Mets earlier this month. It was the roughest outing of Lopez's career and it lifted his E.R.A on the season to 5.93. The Mets hit three home runs off Lopez in the outing, which lifted his total on the season to five.
Sandy Alcantara will get the ball in Sunday's series finale, as he continues to look for more efficiency. Alcantara has only lasted six or more innings twice this season. In his start against the Mets this month, Alcantara allowed four runs in 5.2 innings of work. The right-hander is 1-4 on the season, with a 5.11 E.R.A.
Miami's offense has been well documented as one of the worst in MLB history this season, but there has been a bright spot. Neil Walker is quietly putting together a decent season for the Marlins. Walker has a .294 average and a solid .379 on-base percentage. Both numbers would lead Miami, if Walker had a few more at-bats in 2019. Walker is a trade candidate, due to his one-year contract and affordability. If the veteran continues to put together solid performances, there should be a number of contenders calling the Marlins near the trade deadline.
The series will begin on Friday at 7:10 p.m.
