The Miami Marlins began their five-game road trip as winners of five of their previous six, but dropped two in a row in the Bronx.
Miami (29-39), still fourth in the National League East and seven games back, visits the Queen City -- home to this year's All-Star Game -- for a weekend series. With a rainout on Thursday, the Cincinnati Reds (30-35) pushed back their rotation. Fourth in the NL Central, the Reds are 12.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the division.
Veteran Dan Haren opens the series coming off two consecutive quality starts, including five of six. In his last outing against Colorado, he allowed three first-inning runs before tossing five scoreless in a loss. He has a 5.59 ERA in six games (five starts) in Cincinnati. Since a three-start stretch from May 16-27 of surrendering 20 runs over 14 frames, right-hander Mike Leake has rebounded with three consecutive games of three runs or fewer.
Righty Tom Koehler limited his hometown New York Yankees to just one run over seven innings in his last start. He has struggled on the road, posting a 6.21 ERA this season. Righty Anthony DeSclafani, dealt to the Reds for Mat Latos over the offseason, rides a three-game win streak. He has gone at least six innings in each of his last five outings.
David Phelps, facing his former team in the Yankees, cruised over seven innings of two-run ball. The Marlins have won his last two starts after dropping his previous five. Since rejoining the rotation, rookie Michael Lorenzen has quality starts in four of five outings, including at Detroit on Tuesday. He permitted two runs over six innings.
Miami is just 3-9 in its last 12 meetings with the Reds and 35-55 in Cincinnati. The Reds lead the all-time series 101-73.
Here's a look at the upcoming Marlins-Reds three-game series:
SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHERS
WHO'S HOT
RF Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins): Stanton has homered seven times in his last 11 games, including on Thursday. His nine-game hitting streak got snapped on Wednesday, but Stanton responded with a pair of hits in the series finale with the Yankees.
1B Todd Frazier (Reds): Since May 5, Frazier leads the NL in average (.340), home runs (14) and on-base percentage (.393). His slugging (.711) paces the majors. He has hit safely in six straight. Over the past two contests he has four homers and seven RBI.
WHO'S NOT
SS Adeiny Hechavarria (Marlins): After back-to-back two-hit games in Miami against the Yankees, Hechavarria went hitless in six at-bats in New York. That included an 0 for 4 game on Thursday with four strikeouts.
2B Brandon Phillips (Reds): Phillips is 8 for 37 (.216) with four runs, one RBI, three walks and seven strikeouts over his past 11 games. He was recently hampered by a strained left groin that kept him out of the lineup.
STORYLINES
22: Homers by the Marlins infield, fewest in the majors
5: Homers for Giancarlo Stanton in 16 games at Great American Ball Park, the most for him at an NL Central venue
66: Steals for the Reds, most in the majors. Billy Hamilton paces everyone with 31 stolen bases.
.356: Average for Joey Votto in 40 games (39 starts) against the Marlins. He also has six doubles, eight homers and 24 RBI.
QUOTE BOARD
"For the first time in a long time we didn't get the job done with the bullpen, and they added on some runs there and just created too big of a mountain for us to climb." -- Manager Dan Jennings, to reporters in New York, about Thursday's game
"It is what it is. That's all I got. Trying to beat him with my best stuff, and if he beats me, 'oh well.'" -- Right-hander Sam Dyson on walking Alex Rodriguez, who is one hit from 3,000
LOOKING AHEAD
The Marlins get an offday before opening a nine-game homestand against the Cardinals.
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
