Cincinnati @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2018 ) Cincinnati 0, Miami 1

The Miami Marlins are poised for their eighth last-place division finish in club history, but their pitching at home over the final two-thirds of the season is one area in which they can feel good about heading into the offseason. The Marlins set their sights on a fourth win in six games Saturday when they host the Cincinnati Reds for the third contest of their four-game set.

Wei-Yin Chen and three relievers combined on a three-hit shutout Friday, keeping Miami (60-93) around long enough for rookie Isaac Galloway to double home the game's only run in the 10th inning for the club's third victory in its last four games against the Reds. The Marlins are 26-25 over their last 51 home contests - a stretch during which the pitching staff boasts a 3.43 ERA - and have been particularly good over their last 24 outings in Miami - registering a 2.99 ERA. Cincinnati was shut out for the 13th time this season - twice in five meetings with Miami - and the fourth time in its last seven contests overall. Scooter Gennett (.316) went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in the defeat, losing ground on Milwaukee's Christian Yelich (.320) in his bid to win the National League batting title.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Anthony DeSclafani (7-6, 4.92 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Jose Urena (7-12, 4.21)

DeSclafani extended his stretch without a quality start to six outings in Monday's loss at Milwaukee, giving up four runs on seven hits - including two home runs - over five innings. The New Jersey native is 1-3 with a 6.90 ERA over that stretch, surrendering at least four runs in five of the outings and seven of his 22 homers for the season. Starlin Castro (5-for-13) and Derek Dietrich (2-for-4) have each homered versus DeSclafani, who is 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA in two starts against his former club.

Urena won his third straight start and fourth consecutive decision Sunday in Philadelphia, permitting one run on three hits and a walk across five innings. The 27-year-old Dominican has allowed exactly one run in each of his three September turns (1.47 ERA) - all on solo homers - but carries only a 2-9 record and 4.20 ERA over his 12 home outings. Tucker Barnhart is 2-for-4 with a grand slam against Urena, who is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two career starts versus Cincinnati.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Marlins will win the season series for the fourth consecutive year with a victory in one of the final two games over the weekend.

2. Cincinnati SS Jose Peraza was a late scratch Friday due to an illness.

3. Miami C J.T. Realmuto has reached base safely twice in each of the last four contests.

PREDICTION: Marlins 5, Reds 2