Stephen Nover's Thursday Terminator
(MLB) Miami vs. Philadelphia, 07/21/2016 3:05 PM, Score: 9 - 3
Money Line: -107.00 Philadelphia (Home)
Result: Loss
The Marlins have been a nice success story so far this season. But their biggest weakness - the backend of their rotation - is likely to get exposed in this matchup.

Tom Koehler is slated to take the mound for Miami. He entered this season having compiled a 4.58 road ERA from 2013-2015 compared to 3.51 at Marlins Park. This home/road split hasn't changed this season. Koehler is 2-3 with a 4.22 ERA when pitching at home this season and 4-5 with a 5.02 ERA on the road. So it's safe to deduct that Koehler - a No. 5 type starter to begin with - is much worse when pitching on the road.

The Marlins were riding a four-game winning streak when Koehler last pitched, which was this past Saturday at St. Louis. He couldn't reach the fifth inning surrendering four runs on seven hits and three walks in a 5-0 loss. Only once during his past five starts has Koehler gone as much as five innings. During this four-game stretch, Koehler has giving up 29 hits in 16 hits carrying a fat 7.88 ERA.

Miami isn't nearly a strong enough team to overcome such a bad road starter. The Marlins have been outscored by 14 runs in losing Koehler's past three away outings.

Phillies starter Jerad Eickhoff is in much better form than Koehler. If you discount a bad performance at Coors Field, Eickhoff's ERA would be 2.34 in his last nine starts. Eickhoff also carries a big home/road contrast with a 2.45 ERA at Citizens Band Park compared to 5.51 on the road this year.