MLB · Mon, Mar 30 · 6:40 PM

White Sox at Marlins

O/U 8 · RL Marlins -1.5 · loanDepot park

Gary's pick

Marlins ML-134

CONF 78%

Result

LLostFinal 9-4

The read

The lights are bright at loanDepot park as the undefeated Marlins look to maintain their perfect start against a White Sox squad already reeling from a winless opening series. This is a game of stark contrasts, where one team has found its rhythm and the other is still searching for its first win.

The pitching matchup is the primary driver for my play tonight. Chris Paddack looks like a completely different pitcher in 2026, sporting a 0.69 ERA in spring training and reclaiming the 94 mph heater that made him a force early in his career. While his 5.35 ERA from last season might scare off some, his 5.03 xERA shows he was actually more effective than the surface numbers suggested. He faces a Chicago lineup that has looked lost at the plate, hitting just .175 through their first three games. Davis Martin, conversely, is a massive regression candidate. His 4.10 ERA last year was propped up by luck, as evidenced by a 5.13 xERA, and his finesse style is a poor fit against a Miami lineup featuring five lefties—including the surging rookie Owen Caissie—who are built to punish his primary slider.

Beyond the starters, the bullpen disparity is cavernous. Chicago's relief corps is currently sitting on a 10.13 ERA and a 2.38 WHIP, essentially pouring gasoline on every fire they’ve encountered so far. Miami's bullpen has been the polar opposite, maintaining a 2.00 ERA and providing a stable bridge to the finish line. Even with the fresh loss of Christopher Morel to an oblique injury, the Marlins' current form and pitching edge are too significant to ignore. I’m backing Miami to keep rolling at home.

Injuries noted

Marlins: [NEW] Christopher Morel (Third Baseman) — Oblique (Left): Morel was scratched from the lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies due to a left oblique strain, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports. (Mar 28 — 2d ago) [KNOWN] Declan Cronin (Relief Pitcher) — Elbow (Right): Cronin (elbow) signed a two-year, minor-league contract with the Rangers on Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. (Oct 7 — 173d ago) [NEW] Kyle Stowers (Left Fielder) — Hamstring (Right): Stowers (hamstring) was able to throw, hit and run during a workout Wednesday, and he had no issues afterward, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports. (Mar 27 — 3d ago) [KNOWN] Esteury Ruiz (Left Fielder) — Oblique (Left): The Marlins placed Ruiz (oblique) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday, retroactive to Sunday. (Mar 25 — 4d ago) [KNOWN] Maximo Acosta (Shortstop) — Oblique (Left): The Marlins announced Sunday that Acosta has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 left oblique strain and is expected to be out for 3-4 weeks, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports. (Mar 25 — 5d ago) [KNOWN] Adam Mazur (Starting Pitcher) — Elbow (Right): The Marlins placed Mazur (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday. (Mar 25 — 5d ago) [KNOWN] Ronny Henriquez (Relief Pitcher) — Elbow (Right): The Marlins placed Henriquez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Thursday. (Feb 12 — 45d ago) [KNOWN] Jesus Tinoco (Relief Pitcher) — Elbow (Right): The Marlins re-signed Tinoco (elbow) to a minor-league contract Jan. 5. (Jan 12 — 77d ago) White Sox: [KNOWN] Kyle Teel (Catcher) — Hamstring (Right): The White Sox placed Teel (hamstring) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. (Mar 25 — 4d ago) [KNOWN] Brooks Baldwin (Second Baseman) — Elbow (Right): The White Sox placed Baldwin (elbow) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. (Mar 25 — 5d ago) [KNOWN] Mike Vasil (Starting Pitcher) — Elbow (Right): Vasil (elbow) will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery in the coming weeks, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. (Mar 25 — 5d ago) [KNOWN] Timothy Elko (First Baseman) — Knee (Right): Elko (knee) agreed to a minor-league contract with the White Sox on Sunday, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports. (Dec 14 — 105d ago) [NEW] Mike Tauchman (Right Fielder) — Knee (Left): Tauchman underwent surgery Thursday to repair the torn meniscus in his left knee, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. (Mar 26 — 3d ago)

Props on this game

2

Every pick posts before the game and is graded after, in public. In the app you can ride or fade any of them, and your book keeps score against Gary's.

Download on the App Store

Every MLB game this dayThe MLB recordToday's MLB board