Sept. 17—The Los Angeles Dodgers, trying to clinch the top seed in the National League playoffs, begin a three-game road series against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.
Los Angeles (89-61) is one game behind the Philadelphia Phillies (90-60) in the race for the National League’s best record. The Dodgers lead the NL West by 3 1/2 games over the San Diego Padres (86-65).
Miami (55-95) has the worst record in the NFC.
While the Marlins were out on Monday, the Dodgers beat the Braves 9-0 to split the four-game series. Los Angeles outscored Atlanta 18-2 in its final two games.
In Monday’s win, former Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas went 1-for-1 with three runs, two walks and a steal.
“He epitomizes what I want in a player,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Los Angeles will start right-hander Bobby Miller (2-4, 8.17 ERA) in the opener at Miami.
Miller, a 25-year-old Illinois native, was taken 29th overall in the first round of 2020 out of the University of Louisville in Los Angeles.
He pitched well as a rookie last year, going 11-4 with a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts.
Miller, who has a 100-mph fastball and a curveball, has struggled this year. His hit rate per nine innings has increased from 7.6 last year to 10.3. His on-base percentage has increased (from 2.3 to 4.8 per nine innings), as have his home runs (from 0.9 to 2.8 per nine innings).
They’ve never faced Miami.
Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani needed two steals and three home runs over the remainder of the season to enter the Series, becoming the first player in major league history to go 50–50 in both categories.
Catcher Nick Fortes will be the Marlins’ go-to guy, tasked with slowing down Ohtani on the base paths.
The Marlins will start right-hander Darren McCown (0-0, 7.06 ERA) on Tuesday.
McCown, a 28-year-old from California, made his major league debut in 2021.
McCown was drafted in the 12th round by the Seattle Mariners in 2017 and has a career ERA of 7.64 as a starter. He has made nine career relief appearances and has an ERA of 6.66.
McKeon has never faced the Dodgers, and given that he has never pitched more than five innings in a game in his entire career, he likely won’t be on the field for long on Tuesday. In other words, Miami’s bullpen should stay loose.
The Marlins returned home after losing six of seven games on the road to Pittsburgh and Washington.
Tuesday marks the start of Miami’s final homestand of the year, and it’s a tough stretch of games — three against the Dodgers and three against the Braves.
The Marlins will be hoping for individual improvement from their young players over the remainder of the season.
For example, corner infielder Jonah Bride is having a breakout season, posting a .771 OPS and 15 extra-base hits in just 59 games.
“Jonah was a pleasant surprise,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said of Brad, a 28-year-old Milwaukee native who spent time in Miami, playing his first 98 major league games with the Oakland Athletics before being acquired in a trade in February. “He’s hitting the ball well. He’s getting on base when he needs to and when he gets the opportunity he’s taking advantage of it.”
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