Miami @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2019 ) Philadelphia 2, Miami 3

The Philadelphia Phillies find themselves under .500 for the first time this season after being unceremoniously swept in a five-game series by one National League East rival. The fourth-place Phillies aim to put a stop to their six-game skid on Friday when they open a three-game set against another division foe in the visiting Miami Marlins.

"I don't think we expected it to go this way. I think there's a lot of factors that go into that," Philadelphia backup catcher Andrew Knapp told reporters after he joined Cesar Hernandez in belting a homer during Thursday's 6-3 setback to Washington. Injuries to key position players and inconsistent pitching by anyone outside of ace Aaron Nola are two majors reasons for the plight of the Phillies, who must sweep Miami this weekend to finish with a winning record for the first time since 2011. That task could be a tall order considering Philadelphia has lost seven of its last nine against the Marlins and nine of 16 meetings overall this season. Austin Dean, who has hit safely in eight of his last nine games, launched a solo homer in Miami's 4-2 win over the New York Mets on Thursday.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (5-8, 4.96 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (7-8, 4.76 ERA)

Lopez has answered an absence of two-plus months due to a right shoulder strain by posting an 0-3 record with a 6.82 ERA in his last six starts. The 23-year-old notched his third straight no-decision on Sunday after allowing three runs and walking four batters over five innings versus Washington. Lopez sports a 2-5 mark with a 7.27 ERA in nine road starts, a stretch that includes a four-run performance over 5 2/3 innings in a 5-1 loss at Philadelphia on April 28.

Velasquez sustained his first loss since Aug. 10 on Sunday after allowing four runs (one earned) in 4 2/3 innings of a 10-1 setback at Cleveland. The 27-year-old endured a horrendous outing in his last encounter against Miami, as he let an early 7-0 lead go by the boards after surrendering seven runs on five hits in 2 1/3 frames of a no-decision on Aug. 23. Velasquez used the words "embarrassed" and "disappointed" after that contest versus the Marlins, against whom he is 4-3 with a 4.06 ERA in 14 career starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami 3B-OF Jon Berti is 0-for-8 in his last two games after erupting for 15 hits in his previous eight.

2. Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler cited long-term goals for his reasoning against pitching Nola in the season finale on Sunday.

3. Marlins SS Miguel Rojas is 15-for-47 in the season series versus the Phillies.

PREDICTION: Marlins 5, Phillies 3