Houston @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 21, 2010 ) Houston 3, Florida 6
The Florida Marlins look a lot like a team that should be in playoff contention right now. Unfortunately, it’s more likely that they’re just playing for 2011 momentum.
The Marlins will be looking to push their winning streak to six games when they close out a three-game series against the Houston Astros on Sunday.
A five-game losing streak to start August and another four-game slide wrapped around last weekend virtually knocked Florida out of the playoff chase, pushing the club below a host of other teams in the National League wild card race.
But the Marlins haven’t been playing like a team without hope lately, firing on all cylinders against the dregs of the NL Central. Florida has outscored the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Astros 28-7 over the last five games, getting strong starts from each member of their rotation and contributions up and down the lineup.
It was Chris Volstad’s turn to earn a win on Saturday and the right-hander was up to the task, allowing two runs while striking out six in six innings. The offense came in rare form, as Florida grabbed the lead in the sixth inning when back-to-back triples by Cody Ross and Wes Helms brought in three runs. Rookie Gaby Sanchez added an RBI double in the win.
Sanchez has been a key to the latest surge, driving in eight runs in five games as he attempts to pad his Rookie of the Year resume.
Ricky Nolasco will be looking for his third straight scoreless start when he takes the mound for the Marlins on Sunday.
The right-hander had one of his worst starts of the season against the St. Louis Cardinals on Aug. 6 - surrendering seven runs on 10 hits - but has bounced back completely from that beating, shutting down the Nationals and the Pirates while allowing a total of 11 hits and two walks and striking out 17 in 12 frames.
Nolasco has been great at commanding the strike zone this season - punching out 147 batters while walking 30 in 155 2/3 innings - but has run into trouble when he fails to keep the ball in the ballpark. He ranks fourth in the NL in home runs allowed with 23.
The 27-year-old has allowed six blasts in 27 1/3 career innings against the Astros and owns a 6.26 ERA in five appearances - four starts - against them.
Houston will counter with swingman Nelson Figueroa. The veteran right-hander will be making his second start of the season after 12 relief appearances. He lasted five innings against the New York Mets on Tuesday, surrendering two runs - one earned - and four hits in five innings.