Series Preview: Pirates at Marlins

While the Pirates’ sour offseason has led into a happy 9-3 start, the Marlins have opened 2018 in character, from a hilariously ominous first-pitch-of-the-season home run allowed to too losses in seven of their last eight games.

The Marlins are coming off a three-game sweep in Miami at the hands of the Mets.

Schedule

Friday, 7:10 p.m. — Chad Kuhl (1-0, 5.06 ERA) vs. Dillon Peters (1-1, 9.35), TV: MLB Network (Pittsburgh market)

Saturday, 7:10 p.m. — Jameson Taillon (2-0, 1.26) vs. Trevor Richards (0-1, 8.64), TV: AT&T SportsNet

Sunday, 1:10 p.m. — Ivan Nova (1-1, 5.19) vs. Jose Urena (0-2, 5.06), TV: AT&T SportsNet

Marlins

3-9

Offense

Catcher J.T. Realmuto, possibly the best player left with the Marlins, is on the disabled list with a lower-back contusion. Martin Prado remains out after a setback in his recovery from knee surgery.

There have been three Brian Andersons to play Major League Baseball: the left-handed starter from the ‘90s and early 2000s who compiled 10.0 career bWAR and over $22 million in earnings, the once-promising White Sox outfielder of ~ 2005, and now the dude starting at third base and posting a .295/.436/.455 so far in Miami.

Pitching

Kyle Barraclough and Drew Steckenrider are 27-year-old relievers who strike a bunch of guys out. They’re good guys to have around, and especially in the Marlins’ case, could be good chips used to fetch some prospects. Veterans Wei-Yin Chen and Dan Straily are both 10-day-DL’ed.

Outlook

The Pirates are confident and, suddenly, so are the fans. It’s easy to look down on the Marlins, especially with the Bucs on a roll. It is, indeed, a good time to make some hay, stacking up some more wins in the early part of the schedule.