Major League Baseball

Marlins-Diamondbacks preview

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:49 p.m. ET

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PHOENIX -- Miami right-hander Jose Fernandez is on the verge of franchise history and Ichiro Suzuki is closing in on a career hits record.

Arizona is just trying to win another game at home.

Fernandez, 9-2 with a 2.29 ERA, will attempt to set a Marlins record with his ninth straight victory Saturday at Chase Field when he faces Arizona right-hander Zack Godley, who will be recalled from Triple-A Reno to make a spot start.

Fernandez, who beat the Diamondbacks in Miami earlier this season, is tied with Marlins left-hander Chris Hammond for the team record for consecutive wins, and he has been something special -- 1.38 ERA, 78 strikeouts -- during the 8-0 run that began with a 5-3 victory at the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 28.

Only former D-backs left-hander Randy Johnson (1999, 2000) and Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw have better numbers during an eight-game winning streak.

"I think we see a more under control guy that is using his whole mix," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "Not going out and throwing the ball through a wall every pitch.

"He's using a little two-seamer. He knows the guys who will probably jump him early with the fastball or in breaking ball counts. He has been able to locate that one away and keep them of the other. It's like having two different fastballs. He's emotional. That has't changed. He still gets fired up. I think he has been more calm being before his starts. He loves to compete. You don't want to take any of that away."

Suzuki grounded into a forceout as a pinch-hitter Friday and remained five hits short of tying Pete Rose (4,256) for hits in a professional career. He had 1,278 hits during his nine Nippon Professional Baseball seasons.

Suzuki, 42, had seven hits in a three-game series at Minnesota that ended Thursday, but Mattingly wants to monitor his playing time.

"It was easy in Minnesota because of the DH and the way the pitching we set up there," Mattingly said. "The thing that I have to watch is time. We have to make sure he gets his breaks in there."

The Diamondbacks had 13 hits but could not withstand Miami's seventh-inning rally Friday while falling to 26-37 and dropping into the cellar in the NL West, 11 games below .500 for the first time this season. Arizona is 10-23 at home, and only Atlanta (7-23) has fewer home victories.

Arizona brought up power hitting rookie outfielder Peter O'Brien on Friday and manager Chip Hale said he will get a good look. O'Brien was leading the affiliated minor leagues with 17 homers and 142 total bases while slashing .330/.356/.670 with 52 RBIs in 51 games at Reno.

"He's going to play close to every day, five out of six, five out of seven," Hale said. "Going to give him an opportunity. He's earned it. We want to see what he can do."

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