Well slap some butter on me and call me a biscuit, it looks like we're headed to Ohio folks, or should I say Cincinnati, to witness the clash between the Miami Marlins and the Cincinnati Reds, staged at the Great American Ball Park, that has a history of being rather generous to batters.
Miami Marlins are sending Yonny Chirinos to the mound, who currently embodies average with a 4.24 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP. On the other side of the field, the Reds are rolling out Carson Spiers, slightly more composed this season, sporting a 3.77 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Remember when having pristine stats as a pitcher was a thing. Ah, good, old times.
But let’s talk about the big hitters, folks. Not that I need telling you twice. Comb over the Marlins roster and you will find the likes of Dane Myers with a stellar .344 batting average. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jesus Sanchez are making some impressive strides as well. Not adequate enough for a standing ovation, but not quite a toilet break either.
From the Reds corner, watch out for Jonathan India, who’s at a .343 batting average, and Elly De La Cruz, a certified knight in shining armor. If you’re asking about their others, Spencer Steer and Jeimer Candelario seem to be enjoying their luau at the plate.
Now, baseball is a game of history. You can’t just hit up a bookie without doing your homework. Looking at their previous matches, most tilted slightly towards the Marlins. But don't let that fool ya, the Reds have a better season record so far, poised at 45-49 while the Marlins are floundering around at 32-61. If we examine the teams’ breathtaking recent results, the Marlins’ previous festival lights weren't the brightest, while the Reds seem to have found their groove, scoring a win in their last four out of five games.
Every game is a new opportunity, and though historically Miami might have been nipping at Cincinnati's heels, it would be foolish to hand them the win just yet, especially when the scales seem to lean towards the Reds. Considering the Reds are at their home field, which happens to be a little slice of heaven for batters, and their recent winning streak, I'd say Miami has their work cut out for them.
So, stow that foam finger and save your whoops for another time. Drumroll, please...
Albert’s Prediction: Cincinnati Reds by 3