Reds at Marlins, Game 1 - Preview and Lineups

The Miami Marlins sit a cool 35 games under .500, 31.5 games back in the National League East.

The Cincinnati Reds stand 9 games under the .500 mark, a season-worst 11 games back of the division lead in the National League Central.

These two teams are about to play one another four times in four days, and will do so in a home stadium that has the single worst attendance in all of Major League Baseball this season. In fact, They’ve drawn nearly 33% fewer fans than the second lowest club in the game to date.

I can only imagine what will be going through the heads of the Reds over the next few days while playing these games, especially given the newfound intensity of the environments in which they took on the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals just a few weeks ago.

Anyway, Sonny Gray will take the mound for the Reds looking to continue his recent run of brilliance. Hell, he’s on his way to a 5+ bWAR season and some down-ballot Cy Young Award votes at this juncture, and mauling a middling Marlins lineup should, in theory, only add to those statements. He’ll be opposed by Marlins starter Pablo Lopez, who will be coming off the 10-day IL (shoulder) to make this start.

On top of that, the Marlins just officially ended the season of their best player, as Brian Anderson hit the IL with a fractured finger.

First pitch is slated for 7:10 PM ET. Go Reds.

Reds Lineup

Marlins Lineup