The form gap is real. Miami has won 4 of 5 and just dropped a 10-spot on Arizona behind a Joe Mack 4-for-4 night and a 4-run 8th inning. Arizona is 2-3 in their last 5 and got run out of the building 14-1 by the Nationals 4 days ago. They're functional, not dangerous, and the bottom of the rotation behind them is held together with tape.
- Day-To-DayA.J. Vukovich (CF) — no05/25
- Day-To-DayDerek Law (RP) — no05/21
- Day-To-DayKyle Amendt (RP) — Amendt was invited to major-league spring training by the Diamondbacks, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.05/08
- 10-Day-ILLourdes Gurriel Jr. (LF) — Gurriel (hamstring) began a rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Monday, going 1-for-4 with an RBI single.06/09
- 10-Day-ILJames McCann (C) — McCann (quad) has started taking machine batting practice and doing catching drills, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.06/03
- 60-Day-ILCarlos Santana (1B) — Santana (thigh) began a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League on Friday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.06/07
- 60-Day-ILJordan Lawlar (LF) — Lawlar (wrist) moved his rehab to Triple-A Reno on Thursday and played consecutive games for the Aces. He went a combined 3-for-7 with two doubles, a triple and an RBI.06/06
- 60-Day-ILCorbin Burnes (SP) — Manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that Burnes (elbow) has been shut down from throwing after suffering a teres major strain, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.06/03
- 60-Day-ILA.J. Puk (RP) — Puk (elbow) allowed one hit and struck out one over a scoreless inning in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.06/03
- 60-Day-ILCristian Mena (RP) — Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters Monday that Mena underwent surgery on his right shoulder and will be sidelined for the rest of the season, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.06/01
- 60-Day-ILBlake Walston (SP) — Walston (elbow) paused his rehab program earlier in the season, but he was expected to start building back up around the middle of May, MLB.com reports.06/01
- 60-Day-ILJustin Martinez (RP) — Martinez (elbow) tossed a bullpen session Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.05/09
- 60-Day-ILAndrew Saalfrank (RP) — Saalfrank (shoulder) said Wednesday that he expects to be sidelined 10-16 months, Arizona Sports reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayThomas White (SP) — White was diagnosed with a left shoulder capsular sprain Friday and is expected to miss the rest of the season, Isaac Azout of FishOnFirst.com reports.06/06
- Day-To-DayKemp Alderman (RF) — Triple-A Jacksonville placed Alderman on the 7-day injured list Tuesday due to a left wrist injury, Michael Germanese of Roundtable.io reports.05/25
- 15-Day-ILJosh Ekness (RP) — Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Monday that Ekness is expected to miss approximately six weeks due to a right calf strain, Kyle Sielaff of Marlins.tv reports.06/02
- 15-Day-ILJanson Junk (SP) — The Marlins placed Junk on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right shin bone inflammation, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.05/31
- 15-Day-ILEury Perez (SP) — The Marlins placed Perez on the 15-day injured list Friday, retroactive to Thursday, due to a right gracilis strain.05/29
- OutJesus Tinoco (RP) — The Marlins re-signed Tinoco (elbow) to a minor-league contract Jan. 5.05/08
- 60-Day-ILGriffin Conine (LF) — Conine (hamstring) appears to be a week or two away from beginning a rehab assignment, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.06/01
- 60-Day-ILAndrew Nardi (RP) — The Marlins transferred Nardi (ribcage) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.06/01
- 60-Day-ILRobby Snelling (SP) — Snelling underwent internal brace surgery Friday to repair a torn UCL in his left elbow.05/22
- 60-Day-ILRonny Henriquez (RP) — The Marlins placed Henriquez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday.05/08
- 60-Day-ILAdam Mazur (SP) — The Marlins placed Mazur (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.05/08
That injury list is the subplot. Arizona is without Corbin Burnes (shut down with a teres major strain), Carlos Santana, Jordan Lawlar, A.J. Puk and James McCann, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. still on a rehab assignment. Miami's rotation is even more decimated — Eury Perez, Janson Junk, Robby Snelling, Adam Mazur and Thomas White are all down, which is exactly why a guy with a 10.80 ERA is starting a major-league game tonight.
The market read tracks the vibes. Marlins -1.5 has been hammered from +193 down to -172, which is a massive move on a run line and tells you somebody likes Miami to win this comfortably. The flip side: tracked sharp money on the side is actually on Arizona at $469, so there's a split between price action and consensus tickets. Ketel Marte and Corbin Carroll showing up in the opener at least gives the D-backs a puncher's chance against an opener masquerading as a starter.