Diamondbacks at Marlins
The Marlins - and third baseman Hanley Ramirez in particular - look to build off a dramatic win when they host the Diamondbacks on Sunday in the third of a four-game series. Ramirez ended a string of 26 hitless at-bats with a walk-off RBI single Saturday as Miami won 3-2 to snap a six-game skid. The Marlins star is still hitting .213, part of Miami’s monumental offensive struggle.
The Diamondbacks, who fell below .500 with Saturday’s loss, aren’t exactly crushing the ball either - they are hitting .244. Dynamic right fielder Justin Upton has yet to break out. He went 0-for-3 on Saturday, dropping his average to .228.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS Florida
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Wade Miley (2-0, 1.84 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Josh Johnson (0-2, 4.63 ERA)
This will be the second start for Miley, a 25-year-old reliever who replaced Daniel Hudson (shoulder) and threw six shutout innings against the Phillies, striking out seven and walking one. Batters are hitting .167 against him. He may keep his rotation spot even when Hudson returns.
Johnson returned to his dominant form in his last start, fanning nine and allowing one earned run over 6 2/3 innings against the Mets. He regularly hit 95 mph on the radar gun. But the anemic Miami offense stuck him with a no-decision. In four career starts against Arizona, Johnson is 3-1 with a 1.00 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. A day off did wonders for Miami shortstop Jose Reyes. He returned to the lineup Sunday and went 1-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and a run scored.
2. Miami hasn’t scored more than three runs in a game since a 5-3 victory over the Cubs on April 19.
3. Diamondbacks pitcher Josh Collmenter, who was scheduled to start Monday, might be moved to the bullpen after allowing 20 earned runs over his last 18 1/3 innings.