Baltimore Orioles series preview vs the Miami Marlins

The All Star Game and the All Star Break is now in the rearview mirror. After a successful first half, the Orioles turn their attention to the second half, the most important part of the season. The first series out of the break is at Camden Yards against a challenging opponent in the NL East.

Baltimore Orioles start second half with series against Miami Marlins

KNOW YOUR OPPONENT

The Marlins come out of the All Star Break sitting 14 games above .500 and are currently holding the top wild card spot in the NL playoff picture. The Marlins are 5-5 in their last 10 games, are on a two game win streak, and have a -5 run differential.

It's no secret that the strength to the Marlins is their pitching. Between the starters and the bullpen, there's not much that's easy when you face this pitching staff. In the lineup, Luis Arraez is flirting with a .400 batting average, Jorge Soler is their big power hitter, and Jean Segura is there to take up space in the infield. There's not a lot scary about this lineup.

SEASON SERIES

The Marlins and Orioles last met in 2021, playing a pair of two game series. In April of 2021, they split a two game series at Marlins park, with the Orioles winning 5-7 and the Marlins 3-0. They met again in Baltimore in July, with the Marlins winning 7-3 and the Orioles winning 8-7.

PITCHING PROBABLES

Friday, 7/14: Sandy Alcantara vs Dean Kremer

The reigning NL Cy Young winner toes the slab for the Marlins in the first game. Through 18 starts this season, he has a 4.72 ERA, 3.86 FIP, and 1.251 WHIP in 114 1/3 innings. He's sitting at 7.4 strikeouts per nine and 2.6 walks per nine thus far.

Kremer has a similar ERA to Alcantara, clocking in at 4.78. He had a great start his last time out, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk, racking up 10 strikeouts against the New York Yankees offense. He has a 1.367 WHIP over 98 innings and 18 starts this season.

Saturday, 7/15: Braxton Garrett vs Kyle Gibson

The lefty Garrett goes in the middle game for the Marlins. He limits walks with a league leading 1.5 walks per nine and averages 9.8 strikeouts per nine. He possesses a 1.137 WHIP, 3.70 ERA, and 3.43 FIP over 92 1/3 innings in 17 starts and one relief appearance.

Gibson's last start out resulted in a win, allowing two runs on 3 hits and a walk with 11 strikeouts against the Minnesota Twins. He now sits two wins away from 100 in his career. He enters his 20th start of the year sporting a 4.60 ERA, 3.94 FIP, and 1.313 WHIP in 109 2/3 innings.

Sunday, 7/16: TBD vs Kyle Bradish

FanGraphs projects Jesús Luzardo as the starter for the Marlins in the final game. He's had a breakout year in his second full season as a Marlin, authoring a 3.29 ERA, 3.23 FIP, and 1.134 WHIP in 109 1/3 innings and 19 starts. Luzardo's 10.6 strikeouts per nine shows a good ability to miss bats, so the Orioles offense will need to step it up. Not just this game mind you, but the whole series.

Bradish picked up his fifth win of the season in his last start, allowing three hits and two walks with five strikeouts in six shutout innings against the Yankees. Bradish has a 3.32 ERA to go with a 3.60 FIP and 1.179 WHIP over 84 innings pitched and 16 starts.

Facing a current playoff team in the Marlins, this series is a good one for the Orioles to come out and get the second half off on the right foot. Especially if they wish to keep themselves firmly in the contender conversation, the second half is very important, and it starts with this series.