Miami @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 3, 2013 ) Miami 2, Philadelphia 7
Domonic Brown has been nothing short of amazing as the Philadelphia Phillies continue their three-game series at home against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday. While the Phillies have not been at the breakeven mark since April 14, Brown has carried the offense recently, batting 17-for-38 with nine home runs and 17 RBIs over his last 10 games. Brown homered and recorded his second straight three-hit effort – and fifth multi-hit game in his last six – in Monday’s 7-2 win over Miami.
The Marlins entered Citizens Bank Park coming off a home sweep of the New York Mets, but dropped their eighth straight road game to fall to a league-worst 6-22 on the road. Miami averaged eight runs and batted .370 as it matched its longest winning streak of the season during the three-game sweep. However, the lowest-scoring offense in the majors pieced together only two runs and six hits against Philadelphia in the series opener.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Florida (Miami), Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Ricky Nolasco (3-6, 3.69 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jonathan Pettibone (3-1, 3.64)
Nolasco continued to be dogged by the league’s worst run support among qualified players (2.25), taking the loss in Thursday’s 5-2 home setback against the Tampa Bay Rays. Miami’s ace posted his third consecutive quality start – allowing three runs and four hits over 6 2/3 innings – but is only 1-1 over that span despite a 2.01 ERA and 22 strikeouts. The right-hander is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA in two outings against the Phillies this season, but 8-6 with a 3.85 ERA against them in 20 career appearances (17 starts).
Petitbone endured the roughest outing of his eight-start major-league career in Thursday’s 9-2 home loss against the Boston Red Sox. The 22-year-old surrendered four runs on six hits and four walks over five frames, marking the first time he yielded more than three runs in a start. Petitbone, who is 2-1 with a 2.97 ERA at home this season, outdueled Nolasco on May 3 – his third career start – when he held Miami to one run on five hits over 6 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Brown, who leads the National League with 17 home runs, is 6-for-12 all-time against Nolasco.
2. Miami rookie RF Marcell Ozuna has reached base safely in 19 consecutive games, batting .352 over that span.
3. The Phillies have won six of their last eight and 19 of their last 26 games against the Marlins at home.
PREDICTION: Phillies 4, Marlins 3