What you need to know about Miami Marlins-Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day matchup
The Miami Marlins open the 2024 MLB season with a four-game series vs the Pittsburgh Pirates at loanDepot park. Here’s what you need to know about the matchup.
What are the game times and TV information?
▪ Thursday: 4:10 p.m., Bally Sports Florida
▪ Friday: 7:10 p.m., Bally Sports Florida
▪ Saturday: 4:10 p.m., Bally Sports Florida
▪ Sunday: 1:40 p.m., Bally Sports Florida
Who are the starting pitchers?
Thursday: Marlins LHP Jesus Luzardo vs. Pirates RHP Mitch Keller
Friday: Marlins LHP A.J. Puk vs. Pirates TBD
Saturday: Marlins LHP Ryan Weathers vs. Pirates TBD
Sunday: Marlins LHP Trevor Rogers vs. Pirates TBD
The Marlins are slated to open the season with four lefties in the rotation, something really seen in MLB. Righty Max Meyer is the No. 5 for now in Miami’s starting rotation, which is missing Braxton Garrett (left shoulder), Edward Cabrera (right shoulder) and Eury Perez (right elbow) to begin the season in addition to being without ace Sandy Alcantara (Tommy John surgery) for the season.
The Pirates gave Keller a five-year, $77 million contract extension in February and he will be their Opening Day starter for a second consecutive season. Pittsburgh has not announced the order for the rest of its rotation but a trio of lefties — Martin Perez, Bailey Falter and Marco Gonzales — are expected to follow Keller in some order.
How did the teams fare against each other last season?
Miami went 5-2 against the Pirates last season, winning 3 of 4 games in Miami in June and taking 2 of 3 in Pittsburgh to wrap up the regular season, clinching their spot for the 2023 postseason in the process.
All-time, the Marlins are 104-117 against the Pirates, including a 61-48 record at home but just 17-19 since moving to loanDepot park in 2012.
Who are key Marlins players to watch?
▪ Luis Arraez: After winning his second consecutive batting title, Arraez will once again be the tablesetter for Miami’s offense. He’s entering the season on a high after closing spring training on a 10-game hit streak. Arraez last season hit an MLB-best .354 with 30 doubles, 10 home runs, 69 RBI and 71 runs scored.
▪ Tim Anderson: The Marlins signed Anderson hoping he would bounce back from an injury-plagued 2023 season that saw him as one of the least productive hitters in the league. In the four years prior to 2023, Anderson hit no worse than .301.
▪ Sixto Sanchez: After three long years of rehab and setbacks, Sanchez is finally back in the big leagues. The once promising prospect will pitch out of the bullpen for Miami and looked like his former self during spring training, a promising sign after so much was unknown about how he might look.
Who are key Pirates players to watch?
▪ Ke’Bryan Hayes: The former first-round pick last season set career-highs in hits (134), doubles (31), triples (seven), home runs (15), RBI (61) and runs scored (65) while hitting .271 with a .762 on-base-plus-slugging mark and playing a stellar third base.
▪ Oneil Cruz: The 25-year-old flashed his potential over 87 games last season, belting out 17 home runs and logging 34 total extra-base hits in 331 at-bats. This spring, he hit seven home runs in 44 at-bats.
▪ David Bednar: The Pirates’ 29-year-old closer was an All-Star last season and logged 39 saves while striking out 80 over 67 1/3 innings.
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