Crunch Time

The Marlins need to win all 4 games against the Pirates to finish with a .500 record. The Pirates, if they lose all 4 games, will break the record for fewest road wins in an 81-road-game season. Pittsburgh has had only one win in each of their last three road trips, and they won two nights ago in St. Louis. This year, in road games played from Thursdays through Sundays, the Pirates have a record of 5-39 (and four of those wins happened before May 16). The Fish won 3-out-of-4 in Pittsburgh on August 16-19.

Starters: The last time Chris Volstad lost was in Pittsburgh on August 16. He has never won against the Pirates, but Zach Duke has never won against the Marlins.

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Four-Word News

Uggla in 30-100 club. (mlb)

Pujols would come here. (sun-sentinel)

Writers vote Marlins awards. (miamiherald)

Marlins campaigning for Gaby. (palmbeachpost)

Mermaid-Manatee auditions in January. (mlb)

Afternoon De-Sweeping

The Atlanta paper's calling today "the year¹s biggest game" (good, let them put pressure on themselves).

The 2010 Braves may be 8-3 in Wednesday home games, but the 2010 Marlins are a respectable 7-4 in Wednesday away games. Florida puts the magical Miller on the mound, while Atlanta drags out the short-rested Derek Lowe.

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MILLER-GOES-POOF: Marlins get swept, go 1-6 on road trip.

Tuesday at Turner

The Braves this year in Tuesday home games, after winning their first three, have since then gone 3-4. The Marlins are 4-6 in Tuesday road games in 2010, and have lost their last two. The Fish have to go 4-2 to end the season at .500.

The plumb-tuckered-out Anibal Sanchez and the pitching-on-short-rest Tim Hudson start tonight.

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Four-Word News

HBO to do Marlins. (palmbeachpost)

Leo may close again. (mlb)

Guillen stays with Sox. (sun-sentinel)

More Hensley and Hoffman. (mlb)

"Happy birthday, Ed Vosberg." (lonestarball)

Burns' "Baseball" update tonight. (courant)

Gaby, Uggla do 'Synchronized-Buckner'. (yahoo)

Cox's Last Stand

The Marlins start their final road series of this season tonight at Turner Field, where they are 2-4 so far this year. Atlanta returns home after losing 5 of their last 6 games - the Braves went 3-4 in their last home stand. And yet in Monday home games this year the Braves are 7-1, and have won their last six (they haven't lost one since May 17). The Marlins this year are 4-3 in Monday away games.

Alex Sanabia and Tommy Hanson start tonight.

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Four-Word News

Will Will be back? (fishstripes)

Edwin's on short list. (palmbeachpost)

Cishek makes his debut. (capecodonline)

Rookies stylin' to hotel. (fishstripes)

LeBron wears Marlins hat. (palmbeachpost)

VandenHurk's first Orioles start. (americanchronicle)

Cousins' historic back-to-back triples. (miamiherald)

Sunday's Games

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Oh, well....

The Fish are eliminated from the playoffs, and Logan's streak has stopped. Time for the Marlins to try to get back to .500. Milwaukee lost their last Saturday home game after winning the previous five - they are 6-6 for the season. Florida won their last Saturady away game after losing the previous two - they are 3-8 this year in Sat. away games. Chris again pitches against Chris tonight.

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Edge of the Cliff

The Marlins are 9.5 games behind Atlanta in the Wild Card, and have 10 games left to play. Logan goes for No. 43 tonight.

Today's game features someone making his first MLB start and someone possibly making his last.

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Four-Word News

Hanley can pinch run. (miamiherald)

Ballad of Ozzie Martinez. (sun-sentinel)

Marlins scout watches Loux. (mlb)

Marlins' November job fair. (miamiherald)

Hensley lunches with Hoffman. (miamiherald)

Grab a Beer

The Marlins start their last road trip of the year with a four-gamer in Milwaukee. This is also the Brewers' last home series of the year - they're off to New York and Cincy after Sunday. The Brewers have a home record of 37-40 - this year they are 13-12 in first games of home series, but have lost their last three. The 2010 Brewers are 9-19 in four-game series.

The Marlins won 3 of 4 from Milwaukee in Miami earlier this year. This year they are 13-11 in first games of away series, but have won their last three. The 2010 Fish are 38-36 on the road, and are 20-12 in four-game series.

Anibal Sanchez and Yovani Gallardo start tonight.

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Four-Word News

Hanley may be done. (rototimes)

FanFest is February 19. (palmbeachpost)

John Baker's open letter. (miamiherald)

Marlins: worst infield defense. (sbnation)

Minervini's wrestling past exposed. (scrippsnews)

Marlins' stadium infield disappears. (phinphanatic)

Bye Bye Mets

Alex Sanabia and Jonathon Niese are the starters in the battle to stay uneliminated.

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TOUCHE: Marlins hold on to win 7-5.

Four-Word News

Colvin released from hospital. (google)

Ozzie's, Marlins' "intermediaries" talking. (chicagonow)

Emilio back next week? (sun-sentinel)

Hanley again not starting. (twitter)

Logan's dad seeing Logan. (mlb)

Florida's offseason shopping list. (miamiherald)

Mets For Two

In tonight's Game One, Pelfrey's looking for his first win ever in Miami, while Adalberto has his first start against someone other than the Phillies.

And Hanley's starting tonight too.

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TWO-IN-A-ROW: Gaby smacks the 3-run homer to beat the Mets 5-2

Fighting the Dark Forces

Hanley's still out, and now Bonifacio hurt his hammy. Might as well bring up the entire Suns team.

With all the crazy calamities this season, from Coghlan's celebration injury to what happened to Tyler Colvin yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised if flaming meteorites come crashing down on the field today.

The Cards flew in all the way from San Diego (WRONG: from St. Louis) to play this game, and they'll be flying to Pittsburgh afterwards. They won 3 out of 4 from the Pads, after also being swept by the Cubs.

It's Chris against Chris today, on this historical day of no-hitters.

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BRAD!: Davis hits a grand slam in the 2nd!

UPDATE: After 3.5 innings it's still 4-0 Marlins.

FINAL: It Stays 4-0! Complete Game for Volstad!

Fighting Another Sweep

Historically the game's in the bag - this year the Cubs are 4-7 in Sunday away games while the Marlins are 8-2 in Sunday home games. But will the momentum of the on-going streaks speak louder?

Today's spring-training game starts Jeff Samardzija and Andrew Miller.

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SUNS WIN

Chris Hatcher wins the championship in the 9th inning and, just as predicted, Hatcher and two other Suns are called up by the Marlins on Sunday.

Saturday Salsa

The 73-73 Marlins are 6-5 on Super Saturdays, but the 66-81 Cubs this year are 8-3 in Saturday road games and have won their last 3.

MRI shows swelling, so Hanley's not in the lineup again. Cape Coral's very own Casey Coleman starts for the Cubs, while Florida's Anibal Sanchez piles on even more innings. "El Caballero de la Salsa" performs tonight.

And tonight the Suns go for the Championship.

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UGH: The Marlins were eliminated from the NL East race as they lose to Chicago 5-3.