It should be a wild night on Monday when the Miami Marlins play host to Texas.
First of all, Scotland’s soccer fans are set to be in the stands as their team prepares for Wednesday’s World Cup game against Brazil in Miami Gardens. Known as the Tartan Army, Scottish fans will walk to the stadium en masse from a local bar, and they presumably will bring bagpipes, energy and a thirst for beer.
Beyond that, Monday is “Bark in the Park” night as fans are invited to bring their dogs.
And, oh by the way, there’s the Marlins, who have won eight straight home games — their longest such streak since 2009.
The Marlins have won five of their past six series, and they have the best record in the majors this month at 14-4.
Miami will be tested now that Liam Hicks — who leads the team in homers (13) and RBIs (53) — has been placed on the 10-day injured list due to a lower back strain.
The Marlins hope to replace Hicks’ bat with that of Griffin Conine, who needed surgery after attempting a diving catch in the outfield on April 9, suffering a torn tendon in his left hamstring.
Prior to the injury, Conine was off to a great start with a .951 OPS in 11 games. He was reinstated from the 60-day IL before Sunday’s game against San Francisco. Conine went 0-for-4 and started in right field as the Marlins won 2-1.
Perhaps Miami’s biggest advantage during this hot streak has been its deep bullpen. While sweeping the Giants in three games this past weekend, Miami’s bullpen posted a 1.65 ERA while covering 16 1/3 innings.
The Marlins used eight relievers, including an opener, in the first game. They used four bullpen guys in the second game and four more on Sunday. Miami got saves in all three games — closer Pete Fairbanks got the first two, and right-hander Lake Bachar earned his first of the year on Sunday.
“It goes back to so many individuals having to step up,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “That’s what a great team — you need to have guys who are unselfish.”
The Marlins on Monday will start right-hander Tyler Phillips (1-2, 3.10 ERA), who has pitched out of the bullpen in 16 of his 20 appearances this season. He has pitched just two-thirds of an inning against Texas (0-0, 0.00) in his career, coming last September.
Meanwhile, the Rangers are coming off a 4-3 win over the visiting San Diego Padres on Sunday.
Texas is attempting to improve its first-inning performance. In the Twins series last Monday through Thursday, Minnesota outscored Texas 9-0 in the opening frame. Then, on Friday night against the Padres, the Rangers allowed a five-run first but rallied to win 9-7.
“The first inning is becoming a thing mentally,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “But we’re going to continue to address it.”
To the Rangers’ credit, they kept San Diego off the board in the first inning of the past two games, so perhaps they have turned a corner.
On Monday, the Rangers will start right-hander Kumar Rocker (2-6, 4.17).
Rocker, who has never faced Miami, features a mid-90s fastball, and his signature breaking pitch is a slider with late movement.
The third overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Rocker has been a disappointment so far in his three MLB seasons, sporting a 6-13 record, a 4.84 ERA and a minus-0.8 WAR.
Beyond Rocker, the Rangers will bring a couple of familiar faces to Miami — ex-Marlins Schumaker and Jake Burger.
Schumaker was Miami’s manager in 2023 (84-78 record) and 2024 (62-100).
Texas first baseman Burger has 14 doubles, 13 home runs, 46 RBIs and a .754 OPS this season.
–Field Level Media
