Miami @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2013 ) Miami 4, Philadelphia 6

Although their five-year run atop the National League East is a thing of the past, the Philadelphia Phillies continue to have the number of one of their division rivals - the Miami Marlins. The host Phillies vie for a series sweep and an eighth straight victory over the cellar-dwelling Marlins on Wednesday. Chase Utley homered for the second straight day and drove in four runs as Philadelphia posted a 6-4 triumph on Tuesday. With little on the line other than pride, the Phillies posted their eighth victory in 11 games while handing the reeling Marlins their fourth straight loss and 10th in 12 contests. Philadelphia looks to keep its good fortune going when it turns to Zach Miner, who gets the nod after fellow right-hander Kyle Kendrick was scratched from the start due to right shoulder inflammation. Miami counters with Nathan Eovaldi, who is returning after missing his previous turn with a balky back. TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Florida (Miami), CSN (Philadelphia) PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Nathan Eovaldi (3-6, 3.80 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Zach Miner (0-1, 3.72) Eovaldi has struggled mightily versus the Phillies, against whom he is 0-4 with a 5.85 ERA while allowing a gaudy .333 batting average. The 23-year-old was torched in his last outing on Sept. 7, when he permitted five runs on nine hits in three innings versus Washington. The setback dropped Eovaldi to 1-6 in his last 10 trips to the mound. After recording 35 starts during the 2006-09 seasons with Detroit, Miner makes his first in 14 appearances with Philadelphia. The 31-year-old struggled in his previous three relief efforts before allowing just one hit over two scoreless innings against Washington on Friday. Miner, who has yet to face the Marlins, has permitted just three homers in 19 1/3 frames this season. WALK-OFFS 1. Philadelphia interim manager Ryne Sandberg said he was "unsure" if Kendrick would be shut down for the remainder of the season. "At this stage of the season, the organization just felt for his peace of mind to be checked out," Sandberg said. 2. Miami RF Giancarlo Stanton, who had an RBI single in the ninth inning, has hit safely in seven of his last nine games. 3. Phillies C Carlos Ruiz, who had a two-run single on Tuesday, has driven in 12 runs in his last seven contests. PREDICTION: Marlins 5, Phillies 1