Series preview: SF Giants @ Marlins, picks, probable pitchers, how to watch

After losing another series to an American League cellar dweller, can the SF Giants get back on track against the Miami Marlins?

The SF Giants need to win a series soon. If you told me heading into the season that the starting rotation would be this good alongside excellent performances from hitters like LaMonte Wade Jr, Thairo Estrada, and J.D. Davis through the first 15 games, I would have started to believe that the 2021 magic would return. Yet a combination of bad luck, bad defense, ill-timed bullpen implosions, questionable managerial decisions, and unclutch situational hitting has instead led the Giants to an ugly 5-9 start.

Teams like the Giants, in competitive divisions, are supposed to be the biggest beneficiaries from the changes to the regular-season schedule. The expanded interleague play guaranteed San Francisco would face bad teams in the American League like the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals. Yet, the Giants have gone 1-4 against those two teams (who combined for 193 losses in 2022) in the first month of the season. Now facing the Marlins, who were 69-93 last season, the Giants cannot waste another opportunity.

SF Giants reliever Taylor Rogers throws a pitch against the Dodgers. (2023) / © D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports

3 SF Giants to watch

1. Logan Webb

The Giants ace, Logan Webb will make his first start after signing a five-year, $90 million extension last week. Webb has had a weird trio of starts so far this season. His stuff has looked as sharp as ever, and it's helped him post an excellent 22-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 17 innings pitched. However, he's also had some unusual struggles with command and home runs. Webb is at least a great numbe-two starter for any big-league team, but after losing Carlos Rodón, the Giants are hoping he can replicate his second half in 2021.

2. Brandon Crawford

There's no way around it. Brandon Crawford has been bad over the first 14 games of the season. The veteran shortstop is hitting just .186/.286/.349 in 49 plate appearances with four errors. If not for a hitter-friendly scorer's decision on Saturday, he easily could have five errors. With Thairo Estrada and J.D. Davis off to exceptional offensive starts, while David Villar is maintaining an OPS north of .700, manager Gabe Kapler might decide to relegate Crawford to a bench role soon if he's unable to find some consistency, especially if he struggles defensively.

3. Taylor Rogers

The Giants signed Taylor Rogers to be the team's top setup option. Instead, he's been their most inconsistent reliever. Rogers has struggled with home runs in some outings and walks in others. Needless to say, the Giants are hopeful he can figure things out. The fact is, the Giants gave Rogers a three-year, $33 million contract this offseason even though he was 32 and coming off a rocky 2022 season (4.76 ERA). Rogers was exceptional with the Twins from 2017-2019, but he recorded a 4.19 ERA over the past three seasons. The Giants bullpen could be elite if he can replicate his early-career success alongside Camilo Doval. But if he's a fringe middle reliever, it will force everyone else into more high-leverage situations, and that probably will not end well.

Marlins outfielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. reacts after hitting an RBI triple. (2023) / Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

3 Marlins to watch

1. Jazz Chisholm

Chisholm is one of the most electric players in baseball, with exceptional speed and power. The Marlins decided to move him to center field this season, and it's been a bumpy start for the young 25-year-old. If Jazz can make consistent contact and hold his own in center field, he could become an MVP candidate and the clear face of the Marlins franchise. However, he's struck out 40% of the time so far this season and has already graded as -1 in Outs Above Average.

2. Jesús Luzardo

A longtime top prospect with the A's, most prognosticators had given up on Luzardo's starter upside due to a combination of injuries and poor performance when Oakland traded him to the Marlins for Starling Marte and cash. So far this season, Luzardo has suddenly looked like the dynamic southpaw scouts once expected him to become. The Giants are hopeful they can end his hot start to the season on Monday.

3. Luis Arraez

Arraez is the reason Chisholm shifted to the outfield. Acquired this offseason from the Twins for his amazing hit tool and contact skills, Arraez is a rare modern-day hitter who does not sell out for power and uses the whole field with ease. He is leading the league in batting average and on-base percentage early this season and has an incredible .471/.526/.647 line in 57 plate appearances. If the Giants want to slow down the Marlins attack, they will have to start by slowing down Arraez.

Series Prediction:

Giants sweep the series, 3-0. It's probably too aggressive to predict either of teams to complete a sweep, but both squads have been scrambling early this season despite excellent starting pitching. The Giants bullpen got a much-needed day off because of Sunday's rainout, and that gives the first three starters in their rotation an extra day off heading into the three-game set against Miami as well. The Marlins, on the other hand, will not have their ace Sandy Alcántaraon the hill. If the Giants cannot at least take two out of three games, there will be a lot of reasons to be worried about the team.

Series Details:
Who: SF Giants at Miami Marlins
Where: LoanDepot Park, Miami, Florida
When: Mon. 4/17 - Wed. 4/19

Projected starters: Logan Webb vs. Jesús Luzardo* (4/16), Alex Wood* vs. Edward Cabrera (4/17), Alex Cobb vs. Trevor Rogers* (4/18)
*Indicates LHP

How to watch/listen:

• SF Giants broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area, KNBR 680/1510 AM
• Marlins broadcast: Bally Sports Florida, FOX Sports 940AM (WINZ), WAQI 710
• National broadcasts: None