Yankees vs. Marlins: Series preview

After rain allowed for the Yankees to only get one game in against Detroit this weekend, they return home for a two-game set against the Marlins. What awaits them when they get there is possibly more rain.

If they can get both games in, here’s what the Yankees will be dealing with in Giancarlo Stanton’s first series against his old team.

Game 1: Luis Severino vs. Caleb Smith

The biggest thing the rainouts allowed the Yankees to do was skip a possible Luis Cessa start, and jump right back to the top of the rotation with Severino. In his last start, Severino had a rough outing, allowing five runs in five innings, after allowing just two in 13 to start the season. The Marlins provide, at least on paper, a relatively good chance to bounce back, as they’ve scored just 49 runs in their first 15 games.

His counterpart for Miami is former Yankee Caleb Smith. After 18.2 mostly unsuccessful innings in New York, Smith was sent with Garrett Cooper in a trade for minor leaguer Mike King, in what was definitely the biggest trade between the two teams.

Now in Miami, Smith is part of their rotation. He allowed one run in 5.1 innings in his season debut, but has thrown a combined eight innings in his last two starts, allowing six runs in total.

Game 2: Masahiro Tanaka vs. Jarlin Garcia

Like Severino, Tanaka had his first poor performance last time out. Good news is, Tanaka had success against the Marlins in his other career start against them, and the best guy from their lineup that day will be in the Yankees’ dugout.

The Marlins’ starter in game two is Jalin Garcia, who will be making his second career major league start. Garcia spent all of last season and his first two appearances this season in the bullpen, but was given the start on April 11th against the Mets.

That first one went pretty well, too. Garcia threw six no-hit innings against a Mets’ team that has been playing extremely well this year. He didn’t get to continue past six innings because of pitch count due to the transition to the rotation. Naturally, the Marlins lost the game.

Garcia had middling results in his rookie season, but has had really good results in his 16 innings to start this year.