Something's got to give this weekend when the Milwaukee Brewers and Miami Marlins play each other for the first time in 2014.
The Marlins (25-23) take the majors' best home record (19-6) into the three-game set, having won four of their last seven on walk-off hits. They are two games back of the Atlanta Braves in the National League East.
Milwaukee (28-20) has lost five of its last six games on its current road trip, but still remains two games ahead of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central. The Brewers have 14 road wins, which ranks second in the NL.
Miami beat Milwaukee just once in six tries last season. During a series after the All-Star break, the club failed to score over three games. The Marlins have dropped eight of their last 11 at home against the Brewers.
Tom Koehler will start the opener for the Marlins hoping to improve on his 3-0 record and 0.64 ERA at home. Marco Estrada will try to rebound from his most recent start in which he surrendered two homers and four runs over a season-low five innings.
Jacob Turner looks for his first victory since July 10, 2013 -- a span of 17 starts. Wily Peralta walked a season-high four batters in a loss to the Braves earlier this week. Yovani Gallardo may not start for Milwaukee in the finale if his left ankle sprain hasn't healed enough, while Randy Wolf makes his first start as a Marlin after the club acquired him last week.
Here's a look at the upcoming Brewers-Marlins series:
SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHERS
WHO'S HOT
C Jonathan Lucroy (Brewers): Lucroy has hits in eight of his last 10 games, batting .389 with five RBI and four runs with seven walks and five strikeouts. He has multiple hits in three of his past four. His average has jumped to .323, its highest in a month.
1B Garrett Jones (Marlins): Take away his lone at-bat on Thursday following his insertion as a defensive replacement. Jones has multiple hits in four of his last seven starts. Since May 12, he has recorded at least one hit in eight of nine, going 15 for 34 (.441) with six doubles, a triple, a home run and eight RBI.
WHO'S NOT
1B Lyle Overbay (Brewers): In his past 10 games, Overbay is just 2 for 27 (.074) with no runs, two RBI, one walk and nine strikeouts. His only homer this season came April 25 against the Chicago Cubs.
SS Adeiny Hechavarria (Marlins): Manager Mike Redmond gave Hechavarria the middle game of the Philadelphia Phillies series off after he had started each of the club's games this year. He went hitless in eight at-bats with two strikeouts and no walks. Hechavarria has multiple hits in four of his past 10 games, but he has gone without a hit in the other six.
STORYLINES
34: Quality starts for Brewers pitchers this season, best in the big leagues
1.200: Slugging percentage for Ryan Braun against Marlins starter Randy Wolf
54: Infield hits for the Marlins, which leads the majors
8: Walks in 31 plate appearances for Garrett Jones against Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo
PROMOTIONS AND GIVEAWAYS
May 23 -- Fireworks Friday; Teachers Appreciation Night
May 24 -- Saturday Spectacular Summer Concert Series (Gente de Zona); All You Can Eat Special; Cuban Heritage Night
May 25 -- Giancarlo Stanton Kids' Batting Gloves courtesy of FOX Sports Florida; Family Sunday (Snapshot Sunday and Radio Disney pregame, Diamond Dash postgame); Pepsi 4-for-$54 Pack; Marlins Foundation Charity Partner Day
QUOTE BOARD
''I think for me I'm more proud of the fact they don't quit. It's so important to me as a manager you have adversity throughout a game at different points ... We had a lead, we coughed it up but nobody quit, gave up. We kept fighting, put together some good at-bats and ended up walking them off.'' -- Manager Mike Redmond on his club's resiliency
''I think it just shows we don't really give up till the end. I think we always feel we have a chance, especially in close games towards the end of the ballgame. I feel like we always feel like we're going to pull it out, someone's going to find a way and we're going to end up winning.'' -- Christian Yelich, who collected the walk-off hit in Thursday's 4-3 victory
''We work a lot in BP and have a chance to run and see how far we can go. When it comes in the game it's pretty easy for me.'' -- Marcell Ozuna on making highlight-reel plays during games
LOOKING AHEAD
May 26-28 -- Marlins at Nationals
You can follow Christina De Nicola on Twitter @CDeNicola13 or email her at cdenicola13@gmail.com.
