Houston @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 20, 2010 ) Houston 0, Florida 9
The Florida Marlins have to be the streakiest team in the majors - and right now, they happen to be streaking in the right direction.
The Marlins will be looking to push their current surge to five straight wins when they take on the Houston Astros on Saturday.
Florida began August with a five-game losing streak, turned that around with a four-game winning streak and went right back in the tank with another four-game slide. But as the starting pitching has come on, so have the wins - and the Marlins picked up their fourth straight victory on Friday behind Anibal Sanchez.
The right-hander allowed just three hits in seven innings, lowering his ERA to 3.16 and picking up his 10th win. Florida’s offense came out in support as well, pushing across nine runs to match its largest output of the month.
The way the pitching has been going lately, just a few runs would be enough. The Marlins have yielded a total of four runs during their most recent winning streak, which features a pair of shutouts.
The Astros have been an easy mark for any good pitching staff this season, ranking 27th in the majors in batting average, home runs and RBIs. They have averaged two runs per game while dropping four of their last five.
Chris Volstad will take the mound for Florida on Saturday hoping to work through seven innings for the first time since May 7. The 23-year-old right-hander has been monitored closely by the Marlins staff this season, but has not done himself many favors either. He has amassed high pitch counts due to command troubles and has been lifted early due to ineffectiveness.
At his best, Volstad can overpower hitters with a hard sinker that induces ground balls and keeps the ball in the ballpark. When he gets in trouble is when he fails to locate the pitch and misses up in the zone.
He allowed five runs on five hits at the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday, lasting just five innings and suffering the loss. Volstad went six innings against Houston back on April 20, yielding three runs in a no-decision.
Houston will counter with left-hander Wandy Rodriguez. After struggling mightily for much of the first half, Rodriguez has been brilliant of late. He has allowed one earned run or less in each of his last five starts and eight of his last 10.
Rodriguez tossed seven innings against the New York Mets on Monday, surrendering one run on four hits while striking out six in a no-decision.
Rodriguez has handled the Marlins well in his career, going 3-1 with a 2.76 ERA in seven games - five starts.