The set-up: The Miami Marlins earned a 7-2 win last night at home over the Pirates in the series opener of a three-game set. It was just the second win in the last nine games for Miami, whose 4-9 record is better than only the 2-11 Cincinnari Reds in the National League. The Pirates lost for the second time in seven road contests this season and will look to bounce back tonight, after opening the 2018 season a surprising 9-4 (sit atop of the NL Central). J.B. Shuck went 4-for-4 with two runs scored in his first game for the Marlins and his first contest in the majors since 2016. Meanwhile, the top-five hitters in the Pittsburgh lineup were a combined 1-for-18 with six strikeouts and catcher Elias Diaz provided all the offense with a two-run HR in the fifth. The Pirates entered the day leading the National League in runs scored but went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

The pitching matchup: The Pirates had the ball to Jameson Taillon (2-0, 1.26 ERA), while the Marlins counter with Trevor Richards (0-1, 8.64 ERA). Taillon is coming off a one-hit shutout of Cincinnati last Sunday at home, using 110 pitches to complete the gem, while striking out seven. Taillon also won his 2018 debut, yielding only two runs and four hits across 5 1/3 innings while tying a career high with nine strikeouts, as the Pirates beat the Twins 5-4. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 draft but until last Sunday, had not made it into the ninth in his first two seasons. The 26-year-old allowed one run in five innings to get the win in his only prior career start against the Marlins last April in Miami. Richards failed to complete five innings in either of his first two career starts, after allowing three runs in four innings in a no-decision at Philadelphia on Sunday. The 24-year-old Richards posted a 2.53 ERA in 27 games (25 starts) across two levels in the minors last season.

The pick: This could very well be a breakout season for Taillon (that's my prediction) and he couldn't ask for much more of a 'lightweight' opponent in the Marlins to face in looking for his third win of 2018. Miami is just 3-7 at home and Taillon's teammates come in averaging 6.14 RPG on the road so far in 2018 and get to face a struggling rookie in Richards, who not only owns an 'ugly' 8.64 ERA but a whopping 2.16 WHIP, plus opponents are hitting .389 against him (he's allowed five doubles and a HR in his first 8 1/3 innings). The Marlins have yet to win back-to-back games in 2018 and WON"T on Saturday, either. Make Pittsburgh an 8* play.