Miami @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 14, 2018 ) Miami 2, Philadelphia 14

The Philadelphia Phillies needed a win in the worst way in their series opener against the Miami Marlins if they had any realistic hope of remaining in the postseason discussion. They got one in convincing fashion Friday and aim for their first winning streak in September one day later when they continue a three-game home set versus the Marlins.

After entering the month trailing Atlanta in the National League East by two games and Milwaukee in the wild-card race by three games, Philadelphia (75-71) fell back into the pack by dropping nine of its first 11 in September. The Phillies turned to the long ball to put a halt to their recent struggles and a five-game losing streak Friday, however, as struggling Aaron Altherr went 4-for-5 with five RBIs and hit two of his team's five home runs in a 14-2 rout of Miami. The result allowed Philadelphia to remain 7 1/2 games behind the Braves but closed within five games of St. Louis and Los Angeles for the final wild-card. J.T. Realmuto homered for the third time against the Phillies this month for the Marlins (57-90), who have dropped four straight and own the worst record in the NL.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Elieser Hernandez (2-7, 5.25 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (9-11, 4.30)

Hernandez is expected to make his seventh career start and first since Aug. 23 when he was tagged for three runs on three hits - including two homers - and two walks over three innings against Atlanta. The 23-year-old Venezuelan has struggled in his first six turns, going 0-5 with a 5.04 ERA while giving up seven home runs in 25 frames. Hernandez has faced the Phillies twice in relief this season, going 1-0 while yielding one run across 1 2/3 combined innings.

Velasquez failed to log a quality start for the sixth straight time in Sunday's loss at New York, falling to 1-3 with a 6.66 ERA over that span after giving up five runs over four innings to the Mets. The last time the former second-round pick lasted more than five innings came in an Aug. 3 victory over the Marlins, as he struck out seven in 6 1/3 frames. Realmuto is 5-for-17 against Velasquez, who is 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA in three starts versus the Marlins this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Phillies are 10-7 with two games left against the Marlins in 2018, guaranteeing themselves a ninth consecutive season series victory.

2. Eighteen of Realmuto's career-high 21 home runs this season have come as a catcher, leaving him one shy of tying Charles Johnson (1997) for the most in club history.

3. Despite batting .185 for the season even after Friday's effort, Altherr is hitting .317 with runners in scoring position.

PREDICTION: Phillies 7, Marlins 3