Miami @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2012 ) Miami 6, LA Dodgers 2

Two of the weakest offenses in the majors will be on display when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Miami Marlins on Friday to start a three-game series. The Marlins were expected to struggle with the second-lowest payroll in the league. The Dodgers started the season with the second-highest payroll and have vastly underperformed. Miami is the only team in the majors that has not scored at least 100 runs. The Dodgers have produced the second-fewest runs in the National League (111).

Derek Dietrich went from Double-A Jacksonville at the beginning of this week to starting at second base for the Marlins after Chris Valaika went on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured wrist. Dietrich went 1-for-3 in his major-league debut Wednesday, a 1-0 loss to the host San Diego Padres which marked the sixth time the Marlins have been shut out this season and the third time they have been swept. The Dodgers have lost seven straight games to fall into last place in the National League West.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida (Miami), Fox Sports Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Jose Fernandez (1-2, 3.48 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Matt Magill (0-0, 7.88)

Fernandez earned his first major-league win on his sixth career start Saturday, allowing one hit over seven innings in a 2-0 win against the host Philadelphia Phillies. He gave up the lone hit in the first inning, then retired the next 17 batters. He closed out his performance by striking out Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Delmon Young. The Marlins continue to be careful with the number of pitches thrown by the 20-year-old Cuban. He delivered 82 pitches against the Phillies and has not thrown more than 85 in any of his starts.

The Dodgers will also trot out a rookie pitcher, only Magill was much less effective in his last start than Fernandez. He failed to get out of the second inning Saturday in a 10-9 loss to the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers could have skipped Magill’s spot in the rotation because of an off day Thursday, and even optioned him back to Triple-A Albuquerque to bring up an extra reliever or position player, but they opted to give him another look. Magill was called up two weeks ago after Stephen Fife, who was recalled to replace injured right-hander Chad Billingsley, went down with bursitis in his throwing shoulder.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers are 6-16 since starting the season 7-4.

2. Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez is questionable for Friday after re-aggravating a neck strain in Wednesday’s loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gonzalez is hitting .343.

3. Marlins SS Adeiny Hechavarria has 10 RBIs, all coming in two games.

PREDICTION: Marlins 3, Dodgers 1