Miami Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction: Can Cubs Start Hot Against A.J. Puk, Marlins Tonight?
The Miami Marlins will take on the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night. Can the Cubs' bats get to A.J. Puk early in this one? Ben Rajavuori provides his best bet in Marlins vs. Cubs.
Ben Rajavuori - April 18, 2024, 5:07 PM EDT
5 minMiami Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction: Can Cubs Start Hot Against A.J. Puk, Marlins Tonight?
The Miami Marlins travel to Chicago tonight to take on the Cubs from Wrigley Field. The Marlins have had an abysmal start to the season, heading into this series with a 4–15 record overall. They have lacked pop at the plate and have also been underwhelming pitching-wise, making them look like an early front-runner as one of the worst teams in baseball this year. On the other hand, the Cubs are sitting at 11–7 and have been hitting very well at the plate, averaging 5.6 runs per game. What should we expect in this opener tonight?
Marlins vs. Cubs DATE, TIME, AND WHERE TO WATCH
- Date: April 18, 2024
- Start Time: 7:40 p.m. ET
- Where to Watch: MLB Extra Innings
Miami Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction
The Cubs will be sending out Jameson Tallion for his first of the year. The righty is coming off an up-and-down season in his first year in Chicago last season, sporting a 4.84 ERA in 29 starts. Tallion did end the season very strong at Wrigley Field last year, scoring four straight quality starts on his home field to end the season.
Luckily, Tallion will make his 2024 debut against a Miami team that has been pretty anemic at the plate to start this season. The Marlins are hitting just .216 to start the year, and are striking out at a 21.7% rate, which is almost the complete opposite of where the lineup was last year. The Marlins will counter by sending out journeyman A.J. Puk. Puk spent three seasons in Oakland before heading to Miami last season. While he was a bullpen pitcher last year and had a pretty good 3.97 ERA, his start in the starting rotation this year has not gone so well, as he has a 5.9 ERA over his first three appearances. he got lit up by the Pirates in his first and tagged by the Angels in his second, before avoiding some busy bases in New York.
While he only gave up one earned run, he walked five and gave up four hits and just 4.2 innings in New York last time out. Unfortunately, he does not get a break today, as he is pitching against the lineup that has been the hottest against lefties to start this season.
The Chicago Cubs currently lead baseball with a .914 OPS against left-handed pitching. For reference, the Diamondbacks are second with a .834 OPS. Only three MLB teams are above a .800 OPS against lefties, and yet the Cubs are hanging a .914 against southpaws so far in the season. They are also not striking out much against lefties, as they are sporting the fifth-lowest strikeout rate against lefty pitchers. It does not take a genius to see where I’m going with this. The Marlins have not looked good at the plate, and A.J. Puk is starting against the team that has dominated lefties the most in baseball to start this season. The play is the Cubs to be leading after five, and the price looks pretty good on this one. Let’s just hope this game does not get rained out, as it looks like it may be a wet night in Chicago.
Miami Marlins vs. Chicago Cubs Prediction
Pick: Cubs First Five Innings -.5 (-115) Click here to see which sportsbook has the best odds
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