MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (Interstat) — The Miami Marlins host the San Diego Padres on Saturday evening at loanDepot Park, with both teams jockeying for position in a tight National League race.

Miami (52-51) enters as a -1.5 favorite, while San Diego (50-53) seeks to build momentum after a 5-6 loss at Atlanta on Thursday. The forecast calls for 89-degree temperatures with clouds at first pitch.

The game comes one afternoon after a 1-1 tie between these clubs on Friday, and the series continues Sunday before both teams move into separate four-game home stands.

For the Padres, left-handed reliever Yuki Matsui has been a key bullpen piece. Over his past nine appearances spanning July 5-23, Matsui has worked 8 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts. He was sharp in his most recent outing July 23 at Atlanta, tossing 1 1/3 hitless innings with a strikeout and no earned runs.

The Marlins will lean on right-hander Calvin Faucher, who has struggled with consistency. In his last nine outings since June 29, Faucher has a 9.00 ERA over 8 2/3 innings, allowing 11 hits and 10 earned runs. However, he bounced back July 22 at Houston with a scoreless inning, striking out two.

In San Diego’s loss Thursday in Atlanta, first baseman Ty France went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. For Miami in its 5-2 loss at Houston on Wednesday, third baseman Javier Sanoja went 1-for-4 with an RBI, while right-hander Sandy Alcantara allowed five earned runs over seven innings.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 4-1 Padres victory, with the over/under set at 8 runs.

Following Saturday’s contest, San Diego returns home for a six-game homestand against Colorado and San Francisco, while Miami hosts Philadelphia for three games before traveling to face the New York Mets.