Miami @ Cincinnati preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 18, 2013 ) Miami 1, Cincinnati 11

Giancarlo Stanton returned to the lineup for the Miami Marlins on Thursday, but not even he could stop the team from losing again. The Cincinnati Reds will be looking to post another dominating win when they host the league-worst Marlins again on Friday. Stanton had missed six games with a shoulder injury and returned to go 1-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts in Thursday’s 11-1 loss. The Reds have won four straight and have put up 22 runs in the last two.

One of the few things Miami fans had been positive about was rookie right-hander Jose Fernandez, who had looked strong in his first two starts. But Fernandez and the bullpen were knocked around in Thursday’s series opener, leaving the Marlins at 3-13. Cincinnati had gotten off to a slower-than-anticipated start but has come around recently. The hitting will get most of the attention after the last two games, but the Reds’ staff has combined to allow five runs during the four-game winning streak and rookie Tony Cingrani made a nice addition to the rotation with five solid innings on Thursday.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida (Miami), Fox Sports Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Kevin Slowey (0-2, 2.04 ERA) vs. Reds RH Mat Latos (0-0, 3.26)

Slowey has surrendered four runs in 17 2/3 innings but has not factored in the decision in any of his three turns while receiving a total of one run of support. The veteran right-hander suffered shutout losses in each of his first two starts. A longtime American Leaguer with the Minnesota Twins, Slowey has never faced the Reds. He does have a lengthy track record against former Cleveland and current Cincinnati leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo, who is 4-for-24 with 11 strikeouts against Slowey.

Latos has struck out 19 batters in 19 1/3 innings but has yet to factor in a decision. The 25-year-old lasted 6 2/3 innings in Pittsburgh on Sunday and left with a lead before the bullpen melted down. Latos has never fared well against the Marlins, going 0-3 with a 7.50 ERA in five career starts. Stanton is 4-for-5 with three RBIs against the right-hander.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Marlins have been held to one or no runs in nine of their 16 games.

2. Cincinnati has scored in double figures four times.

3. Miami placed SS Adeiny Hechavarria (elbow) on the 15-day DL.

PREDICTION: Reds 6, Marlins 2