As the Milwaukee Brewers and Miami Marlins face off, there's a certain trend to look out for: things that happen early.
First things first is, well, the first inning. Miami has allowed 20 runs in the opening frame in its first 21 games -- an 8.57 ERA. Opportunity needs to knock for Milwaukee as the Marlins' ERA after the first inning is 3.40.
On the Brewers side, Friday's starter Zach Davies has been excellent in the first two innings during his brief career.
In innings 1-2, Davies has an ERA of 1.13 (2 runs in 16 innings) while holding opponents to a .241 batting average (.077 with runners in scoring position), .308 on-base percentage and .276 slugging percentage. Unfortunately for the Brewers and Davies, those numbers jump from the third inning on, with Davies having an ERA of 7.18 and an opposing slash line of 279/364/452.
Meanwhile, the first pitch of Marlins starter Adam Conley will be important. His numbers when throwing a first-pitch strike compared to a first-pitch ball are staggering.
Opposing slash line vs. Conley when he gets ahead 0-1: 182/206/394. He also has a 15:1 K/BB ratio.
Opposing slash line vs. Conley when he falls behind 1-0: 379/500/621 with a 6:7 K/BB ratio.
Who might stand out in the hitting department for Milwaukee? Coming back from a stadium where he hits well (Wrigley), Ryan Braun faces an opponent which he has hit hard over the years.
HIGHEST SLUGGING % VS. MARLINS SINCE 2010 (Min. 100 PA)
Other notes:
-- In last season's series, Miami batted .282 and Milwaukee .288. However, the Marlins hit .322 with runners in scoring position and the Brewers .258.
-- The Brewers have two or more doubles in each of their last nine games.
-- Braun has a seven-game hitting streak vs. the Marlins. He is 12 for 30 (.400) in that span.
-- Conley is unbeaten in nine career road starts (3-0).
-- Miami's Martin Prado has a hit in each of his 15 starts this season. Prado is batting .517 in road games in 2016.
Statistics courtesy STATS Inc.
