The D’backs travel to Miami to face the listless Marlins, a team tied for the worst record in the majors at 11-30 and are on a five-game losing streak.

After a fire sale in the offseason, only Giancarlo Stanton remained a legitimate above-average regular. And he’s hurt.

The Marlins are dead last in the majors in runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. In their last game, against the Reds on May 16, the Marlins trotted out a lineup featuring Juan Pierre in the leadoff spot, Adeiny Hechavarria in the two hole, Derek Dietrich, and his six career games in the majors, in the third spot and Marcell Ozuna, and his 15 games in the majors, hitting clean up. It’s a very bad, no good, dirty, rotten lineup.

On the flip side, the Snakes are playing very well right now. Coming off a series win against the talented Braves, and winning seven of their last 10, the D’backs should get off to a good start on their six game road trip through Miami and Denver.

Game 1 (Friday): Trevor Cahill (2-4, 2.70 ERA) vs. Kevin Slowey (1-3, 2.55 ERA)

Slowey has been a bright spot for the Marlins this season. He was brilliant in April, compiling a 2.15 ERA. He kept opponents off the base paths, only walking six in 37.2 innings of work, and limited the home runs, only three in 138 at bats. In his first start in May, he finally earned his first win of the season, throwing seven shut out inning against the Phillies. However, in his next outing, his last, Slowey was pounded. On May 11 against the Dodgers, Slowey gave up five runs and 11 hits in only 4.2 innings. Will he bounce back or will the regression continue?

Despite having issues with control in his last outing, walking four in five innings, Cahill limited the damage to one run, yet still received the loss against the Phils on May 11. Cahill is quietly chugging along with his 2.70 ERA. He may be getting a tad lucky with home runs but not much. He’s becoming the pitcher the D’backs were expecting when they traded for him before last season.

Game 2 (Saturday): Brandon McCarthy (0-3, 5.63) vs. Tom Koehler (0-1, 3.31)

Koehler will be making his second start for the Marlins this season. He’s pitched in seven games this season, but only in his last appearance, on May 12 against the Dodgers, did he start. He went five innings, gave up two runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out one. On the season, he has 10 strike outs and seven walks in 16.1 innings of work. McCarthy was brilliant, finally, in his last outing, shutting out the Phillies on May 12 for eight innings. He struck out five, walked none and only allowed seven hits. Unfortunately, the bullpen blew the lead in the ninth and McCarthy received a no decision. Still, in his last three games, McCarthy has a 3.10 ERA and has struck out 14 and only walked two in 20.1 innings.

 Game 3 (Sunday): Wade Miley (3-2, 3.75) vs. Ricky Nolasco (2-5, 4.39)

In his last start, Nolasco was touched up for six runs in five innings against the Reds on May 14. Nolasco has been up and down all season, four quality starts but also three outings where gave up four runs or more. Despite his home field being a pitcher’s haven, Nolasco has actually been his worst at home. He owns a 5.25 ERA in four games, going 1-2 in the process.

Miley may be showing some flaws after continuing his dominant 2012 into April 2013. But now, he’s had three bad outings in his last four, struggling with command in those bad outings. He walked 12 in 14.1 innings. In his last start, he gave up six earned in five innings and received the loss on May 13 against the Braves.

 The D’backs and Marlins are squaring off for the first time in 2013. The D’backs came out on top in 2012, going 5-3 against the fish, outscoring them 38-32.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Tyler Skaggs throws in the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Chase Field. Image: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

If you told me at the beginning of the 2011 season that in August of that year the team was three games over .500 and within striking distance of the N.L. West lead I would have been impressed. But since that 2011 team had a huge breakout season posting 94 wins, it makes the team of 2012 seem like a flop.

Record Notes: With their win(s) on Wednesday the team improved to 64-61 and sits six full games behind the first place Giants. It was the team’s fourth straight four game split and they’re now 1-1-4 in four game series this season. Luckily for the Dbacks as they continue to play .500 ball this late in the season so do the Giants, Dodgers and the Pirates who Arizona trails in the Wild Card by just 4.5 games. Despite all the ups and downs and disappointing games this team has played they still sit right in the thick of things when it all matters- something we should all be excited about.

*The Diamondbacks completed their first ever doubleheader at Chase Field with a sweep on Wednesday on the backs of two rookies, Tyler Skaggs and Wade Miley.

GOOD: Wade Miley was again exceptional on Wednesday night hurling eight shutout innings while allowing just four hits. He capped his night off by striking out the side in the eighth. It was the fifth time this season he worked at least six innings without allowing an earned run and the thirteenth time in twenty-two starts that he’s allowed one or fewer runs. Miley has to be the front runner for Rookie of the Year honors with 14 wins and an ERA of 2.80.

*David Hernandez and J.J. Putz are the most reliable relievers on the team right now and for the first time since April 12^th Putz can say his ERA is under 3.00 (2.95). Putz had an awful April and May but looks like he’ll still finish with 30-35 saves and his ERA will hopefully hover around the 3.00 mark the remainder of the season. Hernandez worked two innings against the Marlins and struck out five hitters. In his last 9 2/3 innings he has recorded 16 strikeouts and a win while posting an ERA of .93.

*Aaron Hill had six hits against the Marlins while knocking in all three runs in game one of the double header with a two run homerun in the first and an RBI single in the third. He now has five multi-hit games in his last seven contests and has not struck out in his last twenty-nine at bats.

*Tyler Skaggs produced quite the debut on Wednesday working into the seventh before giving way to Brad Ziegler after he allowed a two out walk. Gibson said Skaggs could have finished the inning but because it was his debut he wasn’t going to allow him to get the loss after such a great outing. The two runs he allowed came after a leadoff walk in the second to Giancarlo Stanton and then two pitches later served up a long homerun to dead centerfield. He walked five batters in all- something that he may not be so lucky with minimizing damage next time out. Another advantage to relieving Skaggs in the seventh was that he was able to walk off the field to a standing ovation at Chase Field, something he said was the “greatest feeling I’ve ever had.” It was a pretty great moment being at the game and watching him walk towards us as he tipped his cap.

BAD: Trevor Cahill was not as fortunate as Skaggs in his outing on Tuesday despite being spotted a five run lead in the first inning. He was unable to make it out of the sixth as he allowed seven hits and four earned runs on the day. He escaped without the loss as the team headed to extra innings later in the night. Cahill continues to be inconsistent and unimpressive throughout his first season as a Diamondback and has a 9-10 record with an ERA of 3.86.

*Chris Johnson’s playing time has diminished as of late and he recorded just two hits against the Marlins- although they both resulted in an RBI. He is now just 3 for his last 28 with 8 strikeouts since he hammered two homeruns on August 7^th against the Pirates.

UGLY: Joe Saunders posted his worst outing of his career on Monday working just 3 2/3 innings while allowing nine earned runs on twelve hits. He surrendered two homeruns in the outing and has tossed up four dingers in his last two starts where he’s now allowed 14 earned runs in 9 2/3 innings. Since August 9^th when his ERA was a very respectable 3.52 he has seen his earned run average sky rocket to 4.22 and dropped to 6-10 on the year.

*One-run games. A year ago [when everything went right for the club] the team was a major league best 28-16 but 2012 has been a different story as they’re just 10-18 this season in one-run games. The team blew a five run lead to the Marlins Tuesday to fall in extra innings 6-5 and then won a one run game 3-2 on Wednesday.

NOTES: Jason Kubel gunned down Jose Reyes as he headed to third on Monday to record his 12^th outfield assist tying a club record with Eric Byrnes and Gerardo Parra.

*Ryan Wheeler recorded his first major league multi-hit game on Tuesday finishing 2 for 3.

*With their extra inning loss on Tuesday, the team dropped to 1-2 in such games. The team has played the fewest extra inning games of all major league teams.

*Justin Upton pulled up limping after scoring in the first inning Tuesday and was removed from the game. He sat out both games of the double header but is believed to be ready for action this weekend.

*The homestand continues tonight as the Dbacks take on the San Diego Padres who have won four straight heading to Chase Field. The Dbacks will send their third consecutive rookie starter to the hill in Patrick Corbin who’ll face off with Eric Stults.