The New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins meet Saturday in MLB action from Marlins Park. This will be the second installment in a three-game weekend series. On Friday in the opener, New York jumped out to an early series lead with a five-run win. Check back all season long for free MLB picks at Sports Chat Place.

New York Yankees 

The Yankees didn’t fare too well versus the White Sox this week, losing two of three games. In Wednesday’s 9-2 loss, New York’s Luis Severino gave up four earned in 2.0 innings of work. Matched up against Miami on Friday, the Yankees posted 14 team hits in a 9-4 victory. Anthony Volpe had a three-run homer and Kyle Higashioka put up three hits and two RBI in the win. 

In the starter role for the Yankees on Saturday the team didn’t immediately announce a name. This was originally supposed to be Nestor Cortes’ turn in the rotation but he’s been placed on the IL with a strained rotator cuff. His season is potentially finished. 

New York Yankees Team Facts

• The Yankees have lost each of their last six road games following a win.
• The Yankees have covered the run line in each of their last six games as road underdogs against NL East opponents.
• The Yankees have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last five road day games.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Yankees’ last four games.
• The Yankees have led after 7 innings in three of their last four games as underdogs.

Miami Marlins 

Over on the Miami side, they lost to the Reds Monday but bounced back for wins in the next pair to take the series. The Marlins’ Josh Bell put up two homers and four RBI during Wednesday’s tense 5-4 win. In the Friday opener Miami couldn’t keep pace after the Yankees jumped out to an early lead. The Marlins’ Jake Burger posted two RBI and a pair of hits in a pretty tepid offensive effort. 

Sandy Alcantara will take the mound for the start on Saturday. This year in 23 starts Alcantara is 4-10 with a 4.28 ERA and 125 Ks in 149.1 innings. Alcantara is 1-4 with a 3.09 ERA in his last seven starts, giving up 16 earned in 46.2 innings. 

Miami Marlins Team Facts

• The Marlins have lost 18 of their last 19 games against AL East opponents following a loss.
• The Marlins have failed to cover the run line in 11 of their last 12 games as favorites.
• The Marlins have trailed after 7 innings in each of their last four day games against opponents that held a winning record.
• The Marlins have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last three games as favorites against American League opponents.
• The Marlins have trailed after 5 innings in each of their last nine games.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Miami Marlins ranks 2nd in the league for strikeouts this season (1110).
• The Miami Marlins ranks 3rd in the league for batting average this season (.262).
• The New York Yankees ranks 30th in the league for doubles this season (152).
• The New York Yankees ranks 1st in the league for hits allowed this season (895).

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I’m probably going to stay with the Marlins. Alcantara will need a bit of a bounce-back from his last start, though; he went 6.0 innings with four earned on six hits in a loss to Texas back on August 6. The good news is that Alcantara posted just one earned in his previous 17.0 frames and should do well against the Yankees hitters if he’s on. In the Friday game Miami was playing from behind for most of the game and couldn’t overcome a rough start by Jesus Luzardo (3.1 innings; seven earned). The pen wasn’t bad though, and four runs should have been enough to win. I like Miami to be more competitive in game two.