Marlins vs. Padres Series Preview

This will be the Fish’s final series of 2021 played outside the eastern time zone.

The Marlins were not intimidated by the Padres when these teams previously met in Miami. Even though the San Diegans have home-field advantage this time around, they’re also in the midst of an inconsistent stretch and missing their most valuable player, Fernando Tatís Jr. (left shoulder inflammation).

This series preview will give you all the details:

• Schedule, Watch, Listen
• Probable Pitchers
• Recent Lineups
• What To Watch For

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Schedule, Watch, Listen

Monday, August 9 at 10:10 pm

Tuesday, August 10 at 10:10 pm

Wednesday, August 11 at 4:10 pm

• TV broadcast for all games: Bally Sports Florida
• Radio broadcast for all games: 940 AM WINZ, WAQI 710

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Probable Pitchers

Monday: RHP Zach Thompson vs. RHP Joe Musgrove

• Thompson: 2.53 ERA, 1.102 WHIP, 24.3 K%, 37.1 HardHit% in 42.2 IP
• Musgrove: 2.87 ERA, 0.973 WHIP, 27.9 K%, 35.0 HardHit% in 122.1 IP

Tuesday: MIA TBA vs. RHP Craig Stammen

• TBA
• Stammen: 2.71 ERA, 1.032 WHIP, 24.8 K%, 36.9 HardHit% in 63.0 IP

Wednesday: RHP Sandy Alcantara vs. SD TBA

• Alcantara: 3.70 ERA, 1.174 WHIP, 21 K%, 38.8 HardHit% in 136.1 IP
• TBA

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Recent Lineups

Baseball-Reference

Baseball-Reference

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What to watch for on…

Monday: Availability of Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jorge Alfaro

Fish Stripes original GIF

• Less than an hour before the start of Sunday’s game, Chisholm was scratched with flu-like symptoms. Alfaro was removed during his plate appearance in the third inning after struggling to catch his breath in Denver’s thin air.
• Isan Díaz would fill in as Miami’s primary second baseman if the 23-year-old Chisholm needs to miss additional games. That would be a frustrating setback, though. The Marlins want Chisholm to get as many reps as possible in the hopes of him recapturing his dynamic April form and leaving no doubt that he’ll be their everyday solution for 2022. Alfaro is the more likely of the two to be ready to play in San Diego. If that isn’t the case, however, there will be an urgent need to call up another outfielder (such as Brian Miller or Monte Harrison).

Tuesday: Bullpen game feast?

• Padres scheduled starter Craig Stammen hasn’t pitched beyond 3 ¹⁄₃ innings in any appearance this season.
• By my unofficial count, the Marlins are a perfect 4-0 when facing openers (pitchers who have started for their opponents despite not being previously stretched out to handle a substantial pitch count). Stammen falls into that bucket as the Pads have limited him to a single inning of work in each of his four most recent appearances.

Wednesday: Avoid the sweep!

• It would be unsurprising if the Marlins found themselves down 0-2 entering Wednesday’s getaway day matinee. In which case, they’ll be leaning on their ace to salvage something from an otherwise agonizing road trip. Alcantara has shown a knack for carrying them in those situations…when he receives some run support.