The Miami Marlins may have the worst record in the majors, but they haven’t been playing like it recently as they try to wrap up a two-game home sweep of the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday. The Marlins (26-50) entered this month with a 14-41 record and slipped 28 games under .500 for the second time this season on June 5. However, they are 10-6 since – a stretch during which middle-of-the-order sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Logan Morrison have returned from injury.
The Twins fell to 3-7 away from home in June following Tuesday’s 4-2 setback against Miami. Minnesota committed a season-high three errors to fall to 1-3 during its five-game road trip and is batting only 8-for-43 with runners in scoring position over that stretch. The Twins rank among the worst offensive teams in the American League away from home, scoring 141 runs and batting .230 in 37 road contests.
TV: 12:40 p.m. ET, Fox Sports North (Minnesota), Fox Sports Florida
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins LH Scott Diamond (5-6, 5.27 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Tom Koehler (1-5, 4.65)
Diamond snapped a two-game losing streak in Thursday’s 8-4 home victory over the Chicago White Sox despite serving up back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning. The left-hander gave up four runs (three earned) and seven hits over 5 1/3 innings, but has pitched much better on the road this season (3-1 with a 4.24 ERA) than at home (2-5, 6.21). Diamond is allowing opposing hitters to bat .318 – an average that would be the second-highest mark in the majors if he had enough starts to qualify.
It took 22 appearances and nine career starts, but Koehler recorded his first major-league win in Thursday’s 2-1 road victory over the San Francisco Giants. The 26-year-old right-hander, who carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, allowed one run on three hits over seven frames. The outing snapped a three-game stretch in which he gave up at least four runs in each starts. Koehler has never faced the Twins, but is 0-3 with a 6.23 ERA all-time in day games.
WALK-OFFS
1. Minnesota 1B Justin Morneau needs one home run to pass Kirby Puckett for sole possession of fifth place in team history (207).
2. Miami rookie CF Marcell Ozuna is 4-for-5 with the bases loaded and 21-for-48 with runners in scoring position.
3. Diamond is the only pitcher to get a hit for the Twins over the past two seasons, collecting a single on May 18, 2012.
PREDICTION: Twins 4, Marlins 3