Florida @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 18, 2011 ) Florida 1, San Diego 3

THE STORY: Not even a visit to a place where they've had success of late could get the Florida Marlins out of their funk. The club will try to take advantage of a second chance Friday when it continues a four-game road series against the San Diego Padres. Florida had won eight of its previous 10 games at Petco Park before dropping a 3-1 decision Thursday in the opener of the set between last-place teams. Mike Stanton's four-game home run streak came to an end as the Marlins lost for the 12th time in 14 contests overall. San Diego improved to 4-0 against Florida this season and has won 10 of the last 12 overall meetings.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSN (Florida), Channel 4 (San Diego)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Chris Volstad (5-9, 5.60 ERA) vs. Padres LH Wade LeBlanc (1-2, 4.54 ERA).

Two days after being recalled from the minors, Volstad was tagged for four runs over six innings in a loss to San Francisco on Sunday. The 24-year old has made 10 road starts this year, going 2-3 with a 5.96 ERA. Volstad is 2-2 in four career outings against San Diego but 2-0 at Petco Park.

LeBlanc will be making his seventh start of the season. He notched his first win at Cincinnati on Sunday as he yielded three runs over six frames. LeBlanc, who has not allowed more than three runs in any of his first six outings, is 0-1 in two career meetings with Florida.

ABOUT THE PADRES (56-70): San Diego clinched its second straight season-series victory against Florida with Thursday's triumph. The Padres went 6-3 vs. the Marlins last year. Nick Hundley's triple was his third in as many games. He entered Wednesday's contest against New York with just one triple on the season but doubled that total in a 6-1 win over the Mets. San Diego will honor former closer Trevor Hoffman on Sunday as it retires his No. 51 in a pregame ceremony. Hoffman spent 16 of his 18 major-league seasons with the Padres.

ABOUT THE MARLINS (57-67): Reliever Randy Choate's season could be over as the lefthander landed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday with inflammation in his elbow. Choate, who has posted a 1.82 ERA in 54 games, last pitched at Colorado on Monday when he allowed a walk-off, three-run homer by Jason Giambi. Chris Hatcher was recalled from Double-A Jacksonville to replace Choate on the roster. Hatcher, who is in his first season as a pitcher after beginning his career behind the plate, tossed a scoreless inning at Wrigley Field on July 16 in his major-league debut.

FINAL PITCH: Florida's Ricky Nolasco is one strikeout away from being the franchise's all-time leader. Nolasco pulled even with Dontrelle Willis at 757 strikeouts after fanning two at Colorado on Wednesday.