Philadelphia @ Miami preview
Marlins Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 30, 2012 ) Philadelphia 4, Miami 1
While the Philadelphia Phillies’ bats have started to warm up, the Miami Marlins’ offense has remained stuck in neutral as the two National League East rivals begin a three-game series in Miami on Friday. Ryan Howard, who began the season in a 4-for-27 slump during the Phillies’ 2-5 start, went 3-for-8 with a home run over the last two games as Philadelphia scored 15 runs and took two straight from the New York Mets to win its first series of the season.
Little was expected out of the rebuilding Marlins, who have matched expectations with their 1-8 start - the franchise's worst since beginning the 1998 season with losses in 11 of the first 12 games. Miami was blanked for the second time in three games – and fourth time already this season – in Wednesday’s 8-0 setback against Atlanta. The Marlins are tied with the Pittsburgh Pirates for the fewest homers in the majors (two), are ranked third-to-last in batting average (.217) and have scored more than three runs in only one game.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, TCN (Philadelphia), Fox Sports Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH John Lannan (0-0, 3.86 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Ricky Nolasco (0-1, 3.97)
Lannan did not get a decision in his debut with the Phillies, allowing three runs and five hits over seven innings in Saturday’s 4-3 victory over Kansas City. The 28-year-old left-hander, who spent the first six years of his career with the Washington Nationals, has not performed all that well in 11 career starts against Miami, going 3-5 with a 5.04 ERA. Lannan has also struggled against two of the Marlins’ top hitters - Giancarlo Stanton (5-for-11) and Placido Polanco (7-for-17).
Nolasco, winless over his last five starts, also left without a decision in Saturday’s 7-3 setback against the Mets after yielding three runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander will also be trying to overcome an offense on Friday that has tagged him for 15 runs over his last 25 innings, although he is 8-5 with a 3.86 ERA against Philadelphia in 18 career appearances. Of the Phillies that have logged more than 10 at-bats against Nolasco, Chase Utley (11-for-35) has enjoyed the most success.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia has scored one less run over its last two games than Miami has scored all season (16).
2. The Marlins have used a different lineup in each of their first nine games.
3. Polanco, who leads Miami with a .333 batting average, will meet the Phillies for the first time since he played for them from 2010-12.
PREDICTION: Phillies 5, Marlins 2