Miami @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( May 7, 2013 ) Miami 1, San Diego 5

The San Diego Padres struggled out of the gate by losing 15 of their first 20 games. Now winning has become the norm as San Diego attempts to complete a three-game sweep of the Miami Marlins on Wednesday. The Padres have won 10 of their last 13 games during a sharp turnaround and have outscored Miami 10-1 in the first two games. The Marlins are 2-4 on a 10-game road trip that concludes against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Miami has the worst record in the National League and its anemic offense has scored a major-league low 99 runs. The Marlins have scored 20 runs over the past six games but 14 of them came in Sunday’s rout of the Philadelphia Phillies. Miami second baseman Chris Valaika suffered a broken left wrist in Tuesday’s 5-1 loss and is headed to the disabled list. Padres outfielder Will Venable was the hitting star with a homer and had three RBIs. Venable had just two RBIs over his previous 21 games.

TV: 3:40 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida (Miami), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Ricky Nolasco (2-3, 4.14 ERA) vs. Padres RH Jason Marquis (3-2, 4.25)

Nolasco gave up three homers in his last outing when he allowed four runs and eight hits in six innings while losing to the Philadelphia Phillies. The loss followed back-to-back winning starts. Nolasco has allowed five walks over his last five starts and 10 for the season. He is 4-3 with a 5.18 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) against San Diego.

Marquis has won back-to-back starts and three of his last four outings. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in four of his six starts. Marquis is 6-6 with a 6.12 ERA in 22 appearances (15 starts) against the Marlins. He has issued 17 walks in 22 1/3 innings in four home outings this season while going 2-1 with a 5.64 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego 3B Chase Headley went 2-for-4 on Tuesday to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.

2. Miami OF Marcell Ozuna has four multi-hit outings in his first eight major-league games and is batting .419.

3. Padres OF Mark Kotsay is 8-for-13 with a 1.077 slugging percentage against Nolasco.

PREDICTION: Padres 6, Marlins 5