Houston @ Florida preview
Sun Life Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 9, 2011 ) Houston 1, Florida 6
THE STORY: The Florida Marlins and Houston Astros occupy the same spot in their respective divisions - last place - but they have been anything but equal through the first three games of their four-game series. The Marlins have won the first three games of the set to match a season-high with four straight wins, and they'll try to finish the sweep at home Sunday afternoon.
TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, FS Houston, FS Florida
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros LH Wandy Rodriguez (6-5, 3.25 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Chris Volstad (4-8, 5.46).
Rodriguez has thrown six or more innings without allowing a run in three of his past five starts, but the other two outings during that stretch have been rocky. He allowed five runs over six innings in a 5-1 loss at Pittsburgh on Tuesday. In nine games (seven starts) against the Marlins, Rodriguez is 3-2 with a 2.56 ERA. He didn't get a decision when he faced Florida on April 8, despite allowing only one run over seven innings in a 4-3 loss. After winning consecutive starts, Volstad took a step backward Tuesday against the Phillies, allowing seven runs over four innings in a 14-2 loss. In four starts against the Astros, Volstad is 2-0 with a 4.38 ERA. He has not faced Houston this season but went 1-0 in two starts against the Astros last year.
ABOUT THE ASTROS (30-61): Houston has lost eight of nine and 13 of 15 and has the worst record in the majors. No other team has fewer than 36 wins. The offense has been the primary culprit lately as the Astros have scored three runs or fewer in 10 of their last 15 games. They have hit only two home runs in their past nine games and have 49 for the season, the second-fewest in the majors. Only San Diego (47) has less.
ABOUT THE MARLINS (42-48): Florida has won four consecutive games for the first time since April 19-22 to improve to 10-8 under interim manager Jack McKeon. The Marlins have not swept a four-game series since taking four from the Mets from May 13-16, 2010. One of the keys of the recent turnaround has been the play of shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who is 24-for-63 (.381) with four homers and 20 RBIs in his past 17 games. Ramirez is 7-for-17 (.412) with two triples against Rodriguez.
FINAL PITCH: The Marlins are 6-3 in July, which means they have already surpassed their win total in June. They went 5-23 last month, including a stretch in which they lost 17 of 18.