Philadelphia @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( May 2, 2018 ) Philadelphia 6, Miami 0

The Philadelphia Phillies rebounded from being shut out in their previous encounter to record their 11th win in 15 outings and regain sole possession of first place in the National League East. The Phillies (52-40) look to bolster their position atop the division Friday when they visit their third city in as many nights to open a three-game series against the Miami Marlins (39-56).

Jorge Alfaro went deep and drove in three runs in Philadelphia's 5-4 victory over Baltimore on Thursday and went 8-for-18 with two homers, four RBIs and as many runs scored versus Miami this season. For all of their unexpected success this season, the Phillies are only 17-19 against NL East representatives and 3-3 versus the Marlins. Miami recorded its second extra-inning victory in three outings as it improved to 3-1 in its last four with a 5-4 triumph in 12 frames over NL Central-leading Milwaukee on Wednesday. Starlin Castro had a walk-off single in that tilt and is 6-for-16 with three doubles and four runs scored in six meetings versus Philadelphia this season.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBC 10 (Philadelphia), FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (6-6, 3.47 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Wei-Yin Chen (2-6, 6.14)

Arrieta collected his first win since May 29 on Saturday after allowing two runs and striking out eight in a 3-2 victory at Pittsburgh. The 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner worked seven innings for the first time since that May 29 outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Arrieta struggled in a pair of outings versus Miami this season, allowing three runs in four innings of a no-decision April 8 before doubling that run total on eight hits in 3 2/3 frames of an 8-4 setback April 30.

Chen hopes a bit of home cooking will feed his success, as he sports a 1.89 ERA and 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings in six starts at Marlins Park as opposed to a ghastly 10.47 ERA on the road. The 32-year-old Taiwan native was gouged for seven runs on as many hits in 4 1/3 innings at Washington on Saturday to fall to 0-3 in his last four starts. Maikel Franco (7-for-16, two home runs), Odubel Herrera (4-for-10) and Cesar Hernandez (5-for-15) have flustered Chen, who is 1-3 with a 4.02 ERA in six career appearances versus the Phillies.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami rookie 3B Brian Anderson has two homers, five RBIs and four runs scored during his six-game hitting streak.

2. Hernandez has five hits in his last two contests after going 2-for-15 in his previous five.

3. Marlins 1B Justin Bour had four hits and three RBIs in his last three games after going 5-for-30 with 11 strikeouts in his previous eight.

PREDICTION: Marlins 4, Phillies 2