Can the Marlins Outshine the Cubs at Wrigley Field?
As the Miami Marlins prepare to face off against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, fans are left wondering if their team can turn around their recent performance. The Marlins have had a rough stretch, with their most recent game on April 2nd against the Los Angeles Angels ending in a 7-4 loss despite out-hitting their opponents with 9 hits to 7. The bullpen's ERA of 11.25 and WHIP of 2.25 from that game are particularly concerning stats that need immediate attention.
The Marlins' hitting showed some promise, with an on-base percentage (OBP) of .342 and slugging percentage (SLG) of .324, but they struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, leaving a significant number of runners on base (LOB). With an average batting average (AVG) of .265 and only hitting .187 with runners in scoring position (RISP), it's clear where improvements are needed.
Defensively, Miami has been solid overall; however, one error did contribute to their loss against the Angels. Their fielding percentage stood at a perfect 1.0 for that game – a silver lining in an otherwise cloudy outcome.
Looking back further to March 31st against the Pittsburgh Pirates shows another tough extra-inning defeat for MIA after leading early in the game. They scored five runs in the first inning but couldn't maintain momentum throughout ten innings, eventually losing by two runs.
The starting pitching has been less than stellar as well; starters held an ERA of over seven across these past games – not exactly confidence-inspiring numbers heading into Chicago.
Despite these setbacks, there is potential for redemption when they play at Wrigley Field on April 18th at what will be a late evening start time locally due to time zone differences – fans should note this unusual start time when planning their viewing schedule.
The upcoming match offers MIA an opportunity to correct course and demonstrate resilience after tough losses. If they can tighten up pitching both from starters and relievers while capitalizing more effectively on offensive opportunities – especially with RISP – then there's every chance they could walk away from Chicago with a win under their belts.
Fans eager to see if MIA can overcome recent adversities should tune into BSW network for live coverage or head over to Wrigley Field if they're nearby when first pitch is thrown at what will be just before midnight UTC time on April 18th.