Apr 5, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo (44) pitches against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
When the New York Mets visit the Miami Marlins on Friday night to start a three-game series, it will be a battle of two under-.500 teams sitting in the last two spots in the National League East standings. But that’s where the similarities end.
The Mets had the highest Opening Day payroll in baseball at $305.6 million, according to USA Today. Miami had the fifth-lowest payroll at $97.2 million. That makes the Mets a major disappointment so far, and New York enters play Friday having lost five of its past seven games.
Miami, meanwhile, enters the series on a high, having gone on the road and taken two of three games at Detroit. The Marlins shut out the Tigers in the final two games, holding Detroit scoreless for 19 consecutive innings. “The pitchers have to execute,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said, “but our pitching coaches did a great job game-planning.” On Friday, the Marlins will look for lefty Jesus Luzardo (0-3, 5.97 ERA) to execute. For his career, he is 2-2 with a 3.55 ERA in six career starts against the Mets. The Marlins are 1-5 this season when starting Luzardo, who missed three weeks due to an elbow injury.
