Reds, Marlins Look to Continue Strong Starts

Cincinnati and Miami face off in a four-game series after recent wins.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:22am

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The Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins are both coming off strong performances as they prepare to face off in a four-game series starting on Monday. The Reds are looking to build on last year's playoff berth, their first since 2013, while the Marlins are coming off a wild 7-6 win over the New York Yankees. Both teams have key players performing well, including the Reds' Elly De La Cruz and the Marlins' Xavier Edwards, Javier Sanoja, Otto Lopez, and Owen Caissie.

Why it matters

This early-season series between the Reds and Marlins features two teams that have gotten off to promising starts and are looking to continue their momentum. The Reds are trying to build on their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade, while the Marlins are hoping to establish themselves as a contender in the NL East. The outcome of this series could provide an early indication of which team is poised for a strong season.

The details

The Reds will send left-hander Brandon Williamson to the mound on Monday, despite his slow start (0-1, 11.57 ERA). However, Williamson has had success against the Marlins in the past, going 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his only career appearance against them. The Marlins will counter with right-hander Janson Junk, who is 0-0 with a 4.15 ERA this season. Junk earned a win against the Reds last July, allowing no runs in that outing.

  • The Reds and Marlins will open a four-game series on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • The Reds recently completed a three-game road sweep over the Rangers, allowing Texas to score just four runs all weekend.

The players

Elly De La Cruz

The Reds' 24-year-old shortstop is a two-time All-Star who has averaged 103.5 runs, 52 steals, and 23.5 homers over the past two seasons.

Sal Stewart

The Reds' first baseman is a former Miami prep star who is hitting .367 with a 1.167 OPS since his MLB debut last year, with seven homers in 26 games.

Xavier Edwards

The Marlins' second baseman is batting .471 with a 1.147 OPS this season.

Javier Sanoja

The Marlins' third baseman is batting .429 with a 1.000 OPS this season.

Otto Lopez

The Marlins' shortstop is batting .333 with a .921 OPS this season.

Owen Caissie

The Marlins' outfielder is batting .296 with a .926 OPS this season.

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What they’re saying

“We did a good job.”

— Terry Francona, Reds Manager

“We're going to try to get some rest, go home and play some good games.”

— Graham Pauley, Marlins Corner Infielder

“Long rain delay after losing the first two games of this series … trailing by three runs early. … This was a great team win.”

— Clayton McCullough, Marlins Manager

What’s next

The Reds and Marlins will continue their four-game series on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

The takeaway

This early-season matchup between the Reds and Marlins features two teams that have gotten off to strong starts and are looking to build momentum. With key players performing well on both sides, this series could provide an early indication of which team is poised for a successful season.