The Pittsburgh Pirates head to loanDepot park in Miami on Thursday, August 13 for a 1:10 PM ET first pitch against the Marlins. Braxton Ashcraft gets the start for Pittsburgh opposite Miami's Tyler Phillips in what amounts to a meaningful mid-August look at two developing arms. With the dog days of the season in full swing, every start is a chance to build something — form, confidence, rotation standing — and Ashcraft needs to capitalize on the opportunity in front of him.

Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins: Starting Pitcher Matchup

Braxton Ashcraft has been one of the more intriguing arms in the Pittsburgh system, a big right-hander with a sinking fastball and the raw stuff to miss bats when he's commanding the zone. The problem has always been consistency. On days when Ashcraft is sharp, he can work through lineups efficiently and keep the ball on the ground. On days when he's not, contact finds gaps and innings get long. Thursday is the kind of start that defines stretches of a season — a road game in August against a Marlins lineup that is young and capable of doing damage.

Tyler Phillips draws the assignment for Miami. Phillips has shown flashes of being a serviceable mid-rotation option, working with a mix that plays to contact and keeps hitters off-balance. Without confirmed ERA or record figures available heading into this one, the matchup reads as competitive rather than lopsided — two pitchers who need to prove they belong in a rotation conversation.

Miami Marlins Lineup to Watch

Miami is rolling out a lineup built around speed and youth at the top. Jakob Marsee leads off in center, followed by Xavier Edwards at second base — a pairing that can create havoc on the bases and force pitchers into tough counts early. Otto Lopez slots in at shortstop in the three hole, giving the Marlins a contact-oriented middle of their order setup before Griffin Conine provides the power threat as the designated hitter batting fourth.

Agustín Ramírez behind the plate and Leo Jiménez at first base round out a lineup that has plenty of young talent. Owen Caissie in right field and Javier Sanoja at third give Miami depth in the bottom third. Esteury Ruiz bats ninth in left — a name Pirates fans know carries speed that can change the dynamic of any inning.

Keys to the Game for Pittsburgh

• Ashcraft must establish his fastball early and limit walks. Free passes against a lineup with this much team speed will come back to hurt Pittsburgh in a hurry.
• The Pirates need to put together quality at-bats against Phillips, particularly in the early innings before he settles in. Make him work, get him into deep counts, and force Miami to the bullpen.
• Defending the running game is critical. With Marsee, Edwards, and Ruiz all capable of stealing bases, Pittsburgh's battery needs to be sharp holding runners.
• Situational hitting with runners in scoring position has to be a priority. Manufactured runs matter on the road against a pitcher who can induce weak contact.

Broadcast Information

Pittsburgh fans can catch Thursday's game on SportsNet Pittsburgh on television or tune in on 100.1 FM and KDKA-AM 1020 on radio. First pitch is set for 1:10 PM ET at loanDepot park.

Prediction

This one hinges almost entirely on which version of Braxton Ashcraft shows up. If he commands the zone and gets early outs efficiently, Pittsburgh has a real shot to steal one on the road against a Miami club that is still finding its footing. If he struggles with his command and the Marlins' speed creates chaos on the bases, it could be a long afternoon in South Florida. Lean Pittsburgh if Ashcraft is sharp early — but this is the kind of game that is legitimately hard to call. Pirates 4, Marlins 3.