The Pittsburgh Pirates head to loanDepot park in Miami on Wednesday, August 12 for a 6:40 PM ET matchup against the Marlins. Carmen Mlodzinski gets the start for Pittsburgh, squaring off against Miami's Janson Junk. With the dog days of summer in full swing, every game in August carries real weight in the standings, and the Pirates can't afford to let winnable road games slip away against a Marlins club that isn't going to roll over in its home ballpark.

Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins: Starting Pitchers

Mlodzinski draws the assignment for the Bucs in what figures to be a pivotal outing. The right-hander has been working to establish himself as a reliable arm in Pittsburgh's rotation, and outings against a Marlins lineup still finding its footing represent exactly the kind of opportunities Pittsburgh needs its starters to seize. Opposing him is Janson Junk for Miami — a pitcher who competes hard and won't hand the Pirates anything for free. Junk has shown the ability to keep hitters off-balance, so Pittsburgh's lineup will need to stay disciplined and work counts early.

Pittsburgh Pirates Lineup at Miami

• Jake Mangum — CF
• Brandon Lowe — 2B
• Bryan Reynolds — LF
• Spencer Horwitz — 1B
• Nick Gonzales — 3B
• Ronny Simon — DH
• Esmerlyn Valdez — RF
• Jacob Gonzalez — SS
• Henry Davis — C

Miami Marlins Lineup

• Xavier Edwards — 2B
• Otto Lopez — SS
• Griffin Conine — 1B
• Heriberto Hernández — LF
• Jakob Marsee — CF
• Agustín Ramírez — DH
• Owen Caissie — RF
• Leo Jiménez — 3B
• Joe Mack — C

Keys to Watch for the Pirates

Bryan Reynolds and the Middle of the Order

Reynolds batting third is non-negotiable as the engine of this offense. If he's seeing the ball well, it creates a cascading effect — Spencer Horwitz at cleanup gets better pitches, and Nick Gonzales at five has room to do damage. Pittsburgh needs run production from this core trio, because going into a road game and scratching out one or two runs against a motivated Marlins staff isn't going to cut it.

Henry Davis Behind the Plate

Davis batting ninth gives the Pirates a chance to flip the lineup and put pressure on Miami's pitching even from the bottom of the order. His ability to work counts and get on base in front of Mangum and Lowe could be a quiet difference-maker in this one. Watch how he handles Junk's repertoire — it'll tell you a lot about how the Pirates are reading this pitcher.

Mlodzinski's Command in the Early Innings

The Marlins lineup features Xavier Edwards at the top — a contact-first hitter who makes life difficult when he gets on base. If Mlodzinski can't throw strikes consistently, Miami will work him deep into counts and make him pay. Clean first and second innings are critical. The Pirates need length from their starter on the road, where the bullpen can't be asked to carry four or five innings every night.

Prediction

This is a winnable game for Pittsburgh. Mlodzinski has the stuff to navigate a Marlins lineup that isn't built around big power, and the Pirates' middle of the order should be able to do damage against Junk if they stay patient. The edge here belongs to Pittsburgh — give me the Bucs taking this one on the road, 4-2, behind a solid six innings from Mlodzinski and timely hitting from Reynolds and Horwitz. Catch the game on SportsNet Pittsburgh or listen on Sports Radio 93.7 KDKA The Fan.