Miami @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( May 2, 2013 ) Miami 2, Philadelphia 7

There have been some difficult moments early on for the Philadelphia Phillies. But as long as they're playing the Miami Marlins, all is well. The Phillies will look to continue their mastery of the Marlins at home when they play the second of four straight on Friday. Following Thursday's 7-2 victory on the series opener, Philadelphia has won 17 of its last 23 home games against Miami, including four in a row.

Thursday's win was a much-needed one for the Phillies after they were trounced in two straight games in Cleveland. It also snapped their three-game slide at home. The hapless Marlins actually won their final three games in April before dropping the finale of a series with the New York Mets and then dropping the opener at Citizens Bank Park. They certainly looked like a last-place team again by allowing the Phillies to score runs on a passed ball and a wild pitch and committing an error that led to another.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida (Miami), Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Ricky Nolasco (2-2, 3.82 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jonathan Pettibone (1-0, 4.35)

Nolasco was winless through his first four starts but has won each of the last two, including a solid outing Sunday against the Chicago Cubs. He limited the Cubs to three runs on four hits in a season-high seven innings. The 30-year-old's best start came in a losing effort against the Phillies on April 12, when he yielded one run in six innings. He is 8-5 in his career against Philadelphia and 6-1 with a sparkling 2.98 ERA in Citizens Bank Park, where he has limited the Phillies to a .209 average in seven starts.

The rookie Pettibone has filled in admirably with John Lannan on the disabled list. Pettibone picked up his first career win over the New York Mets on Saturday. He allowed three runs on seven hits in five serviceable innings. The 22-year-old has 10 strikeouts against just two walks in 10 1/3 innings thus far. Lannan is expected to miss up to six more weeks, so the opportunity is there for Pettibone to establish something.

WALK-OFFS

1. Marlins LF Juan Pierre picked up his 600th career stolen base in Thursday's loss.

2. Phillies RF Domonic Brown has five multi-hit efforts in his last eight games.

3. Philadelphia 1B Ryan Howard has three home runs, four doubles and eight walks in 41 plate appearances against Nolasco.

PREDICTION: Phillies 5, Marlins 4