Boasting the league’s second-best home ERA, Miami welcomes the Cubs to open a high-stakes gauntlet against postseason contenders while chasing the final National League Wild Card spot.
MIAMI — The Miami Marlins return home for a crucial weekend series against the Chicago Cubs on Friday.
The Marlins enter the series three games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks (74-67) for the third and final National League Wild Card spot. Their series with the Cubs are the first of 18 games against postseason contenders including the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves. With 21 games left in the regular season, Miami’s destiny is in its hands.
The Marlins are well positioned at home for the homestretch. The Fightin’ Fish are 42-27 at loanDepot park this season, which is the fourth highest mark in the Major Leagues. Only the division leading Braves (48), Tampa Bay Rays (47), and Milwaukee Brewers (47) have more wins at home.
The Marlins pitching staff has combined for a 3.29 ERA (250 ER/626.0 IP) through 69 home games, which is the second-lowest home ERA in the big leagues. Miami starter Janson Junk enters Friday with a 3.62 ERA over 11 starts and one relief appearance at loanDepot park this season.
Junk spent time in the injured list and made his return on July 9. Since then, he has held opponents to two runs or fewer in eight of his last nine starts. In his most recent start, Junk limited the Washington Nationals to a single run over 4.2 innings in the Marlins 6-2 win on Aug. 30.
Marlins outfielder Heriberto Hernández enters Friday with a career-best 20-game on-base streak since Aug. 12. During that stretch he is slashing .264/.398/.597 with three doubles, seven home runs and 17 RBI. Hernández went from being sent down early in the season to the Marlins leader in home runs with 23.
Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez is close to becoming the first Miami hitter since Jose Reyes in 2012 to record 30 doubles and 30 stolen bases in a single season. The All-Star shortstop is tied with former Marlin Luis Arraez for the most hits in the big leagues with 166, while also second in triples with eight.
Prospect Watch
Marlins’ No. 6 prospect Cam Cannarella, and No. 28 prospect Brendan Jones each hit a home run while No. 13 prospect Brandon Compton hit his first Triple-A double during the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp’s 10-9 loss against Norfolk on Thursday.
Marlins’ No. 2 prospect Aiva Arquette hit two singles during Double-A Pensacola’s 4-1 loss against Columbus on Thursday.
Marlins’ No. 16 prospect LHP Nate Payne thew five shutout innings with seven strikeouts in High-A Beloit’s 4-1 win over Wisconsin on Thursday.
