This is our chance.
That’s surely what the Cincinnati Reds are thinking as they get ready to open a four-game series in Miami against the Marlins on Monday night.
At 53-58, the Reds are on the fringe of the National League’s wild-card race. Miami (42-70), meanwhile, has the third-worst record in the majors.
Despite those numbers, however, the Reds can’t afford to play sloppy baseball against the Marlins, who just completed a 5-4 road trip that included two straight wins over the Braves.
Marlins first baseman Jonah Bride hit a three-run homer in Miami’s 7-0 win over Atlanta on Sunday.
Bride has made eight straight starts for Miami, and he has hit three homers in his past five games.
“They’ve put a lot of trust in me,” Bride said of the Marlins organization.
The Marlins are 9-7 since the All-Star break, and they continue to find ways to win even after dumping several standouts before the July 30 trade deadline.
Even so, it’s hard to argue that Miami’s lineup is stronger than it was last year.
For example, second baseman Otto Lopez is hitting .227. Last year, Miami’s second baseman was Luis Arraez, who averaged .354 and won the NL batting title. The Marlins traded Arraez to the San Diego Padres in May.
Outfielders Bryan De La Cruz and Jazz Chisholm Jr. were dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees, respectively.
De La Cruz hit 18 homers and drove in 51 runs in 105 games with Miami this season. Chisholm is an explosive talent. In his final 198 games with the Marlins, dating back to the start of the 2023 season, he posted 32 homers, 101 RBIs and 44 steals.
In addition, the Marlins traded away closer Tanner Scott, who had a 1.18 ERA and 18 saves before he was shipped to San Diego.
On Monday, the Marlins are set to start rookie right-hander Roddery Munoz (2-5, 5.45 ERA).
Munoz, who has never faced the Reds, has a 6.43 ERA in six home games (five starts), covering 28 innings. He has been better in his seven road starts with a 4.74 ERA in 38 innings.
Clearly, he needs to get off to better starts, having posted a 7.50 ERA in the first inning this year.
The Reds are expected to counter Munoz with Nick Martinez (5-5, 3.65).
Martinez, a 33-year-old Miami native, has made 26 relief appearances this year (5-2, 1.86). But Martinez is 0-3 with a 7.36 ERA in five starts.
However, Martinez is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA in nine career appearances against the Marlins, including two starts. In five career appearances in Miami — including one start — Martinez is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA.
The Reds, who have lost three of their past four games, boast another South Florida starter. Second baseman Jonathan India was born in Fort Lauderdale, about 30 minutes north of Miami.
India was the NL Rookie of the Year in 2021, producing 21 homers and an .835 OPS. This year, he has nine homers and a .767 OPS.
“I love it here — I’ve said that a million times,” India said about playing for the Reds. He had been the subject of many trade rumors leading up to the deadline. “This is a special place.”
