After starting the year with what many could argue was a rotation entirely composed of aces or ace-potential starters, the Dodgers currently deal with a very different reality in that department. For all the difference in payroll between Los Angeles and Miami, it’ll be the Marlins sending a Cy Young winner to the mound in this Monday matchup, while Los Angeles is stretching out Ben Casparius after pitching in relief during his brief time in the majors.

Searching for options in a period with no off days in sight, the Dodgers will make use of an idea that was brought up about a week ago, of potentially putting Casparius back in the rotation. Casparius is no stranger to a starter’s role, having come up through the minors primarily as a starting pitcher. However, given how well he was performing as a long reliever, one is right to assume this is more about necessity than preference.

Left-hander Jack Dreyer will actually open Monday’s game in Miami, but Casparius will get the bulk of the innings on the mound.

For Alcantara, this will be his first outing since allowing seven runs and failing to complete three innings at Dodger Stadium. No matter how you look at it, the outlook seems promising for the Dodgers’ offense to put on another strong performance. Alcántara has struggled heavily in his return from Tommy John surgery, currently with an ERA over 8.00. Sandy historically has major issues against Los Angeles, as we just saw in his last performance. Last but not least, the offense has performed really well as of late, averaging a little over six runs in their last two series.

Speaking of reasons for optimism with the offense, this will be Shohei Ohtani’s first game back in Miami since that historic record-breaking 6-for-6 performance in September, a game in which Ohtani inaugurated the 50-50 club. It’s only a five-game sample, but Ohtani’s 1.000 SLG in Miami is the highest of his career at any ballpark.

Keep an eye out for Kyle Stowers, who, after that two-homer game against the Dodgers, had another one of those, this time directly leading to a Marlins win. Stowers hit an opposite-field grand slam off flame-throwing Mason Miller to give Miami a win over the A’s last Saturday and cap off the best single game of his professional career.

Monday game info

Teams: Dodgers at Marlins
Stadium: LoanDepot Park, Miami
Start time: 3:40 p.m. PT
TV: SportsNet LA
Radio: AM 570 (English), KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish)