Pirates Are Treading Water, But Marlins Are Ready to Drown 'Em — Thursday Showdown Preview

PITTSBURGH — Three straight losses. A lineup that's gone ice-cold. And now a date with a Miami Marlins squad that turns LoanDepot Park into a house of horrors. The Pirates are staring down the barrel of a four-game skid, and Thursday's 1:10 p.m. ET showdown isn't going to be a walk in the park.

The Marlins have been straight-up bullies at home, sitting at 38-24 on their own turf. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is just 28-34 on the road and a mediocre 58-64 overall. This isn't just a slump — it's a freefall, and the Fish are ready to feast.

Pitching Matchup: Ashcraft vs. Phillips

Braxton Ashcraft (11-5, 4.08 ERA) takes the mound for the Pirates, and honestly, he's been one of the few bright spots. With 145 strikeouts and a 1.16 WHIP, he's got the stuff to quiet Miami's bats — but can he outduel Tyler Phillips (3-5, 3.47 ERA)? Phillips has been solid in limited action, and the Marlins have the edge in the season series, 4-1. The books have this one tight: Pirates -124, Marlins +109, with an over/under of 8 runs. Translation: expect some fireworks.

Hottest Bats and Coldest Locks

For Miami, Otto Lopez has been a doubles machine — 29 two-baggers, seven triples, nine homers, and 53 RBIs. But the real headache lately is Griffin Conine, who's gone 10-for-33 with four homers and seven RBIs in his last 10 games. That dude is locked in.

The Pirates need Bryan Reynolds to wake up. He's got 15 homers and 28 doubles on the year, but this team is desperate for a spark. Endy Rodriguez has been decent — 9-for-33 with two jacks in his last 10 — but Pittsburgh's offense has been putrid overall: a .204 team average over their last 10 games while getting outscored by 25 runs. Yikes.

Injury Report: Who's Sidelined?

Both squads are banged up. The Marlins are missing Kyle Stowers (hamstring), Max Meyer (neck), and Anthony Bender (shin), among others. The Pirates are nursing Endy Rodriguez (day-to-day, hip), while Oneil Cruz, Mitch Keller, and Ryan O'Hearn are all on the shelf. Depth is an issue, especially for a Pittsburgh team that can't catch a break.

Bottom Line

The Marlins are 6-4 in their last 10, outscoring opponents by 16 runs. The Pirates are 2-8 and getting crushed on both sides. If Ashcraft doesn't bring his A-game, this could get ugly fast. Miami's lineup is hungry, the home crowd will be loud, and Pittsburgh's playoff hopes are already on life support. Can they stop the bleeding? Or will the Marlins send them home with a fourth straight L? Tune in and find out.