Philadelphia @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( May 5, 2013 ) Miami 14, Philadelphia 2

The Miami Marlins scored 14 runs in a victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on May 5. They have tallied just 19 over the ensuing 12 games. The Marlins open a three-game series against the visiting Phillies on Monday hoping to get their bats moving. Miami has scored just 117 runs, fewest in the majors. The Marlins snapped a seven-game skid with a 2-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday. Philadelphia has won five of its last seven games.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard missed Sunday’s dramatic 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds due to his troublesome left knee and didn’t travel with the team to Miami. Howard will undergo an MRI exam on Monday and the results will determine whether or not he travels to Miami or rejoins the team later during an eight-game road trip that includes stops in Washington and Boston. Philadelphia was two outs away from losing Sunday before Erik Kratz and Freddy Galvis hit back-to-back homers to tie and win the game, respectively. Marcell Ozuna doubled in both runs in the Marlins’ victory Sunday. The two teams split the four-game set in Philadelphia earlier this month.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, Fox Sports Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cole Hamels (1-6, 4.61 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Alex Sanabia (2-6, 5.00)

Hamels has lost three straight starts, including one to the Marlins on May 4 when he gave up two runs and four hits in eight innings. Ozuna and Chris Valaika hit solo homers off him for the only runs of the game. Hamels gave up five runs and six hits in five innings while losing to the Cleveland Indians in his last outing. He is 8-11 with a 3.24 ERA in 26 career starts against the Marlins.

Sanabia has lost five consecutive outings since last winning on April 16. The Marlins have scored just five runs over his last four starts and he has given up three or fewer earned runs in five of his eight starts. Sanabia lost to the Cincinnati Reds in his last start and gave up four runs and nine hits in six innings. He is 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA in two career starts against the Phillies and lost to them on May 2 when he gave up two earned runs and six hits in five innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. SS Jimmy Rollins is hitless in six at-bats against Sanabia and 2B Chase Utley is 0-for-5.

2. The Marlins are 8-5 when they score first and 4-27 when they don’t.

3. Phillies C Carlos Ruiz left Sunday’s game with a strained hamstring and remained in Philadelphia to undergo an MRI exam on Monday.

PREDICTION: Phillies 5, Marlins 3