Miami @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 27, 2019 ) Miami 4, Philadelphia 5

Even though they occupy the bottom two rungs in the National League East on the final weekend of the regular season, the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins appear in no hurry to go home. The Phillies kept their hopes alive for their first winning season since 2011 in the series opener and continue their three-game set against the visiting Marlins on Saturday night.

The teams slogged through 15 innings and more than five hours before Philadelphia halted its six-game losing streak on a walk-off error to beat Miami for only the third time in 10 meetings. Bryce Harper has hit safely in 11 of 12 games after collecting a pair of hits and two RBIs to boost his season total to a career-best 111. Marlins shortstop Miguel Rojas collected four hits to hike his season average to .358 (19-for-53) against the Phillies this season. Rookie Harold Ramirez homered for the first time since Sept. 5 and is 10-for-30 over the last seven games for Miami, which sends lefty Caleb Smith to the mound to oppose Zach Eflin.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins LH Caleb Smith (10-10, 4.31 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Zach Eflin (9-13, 4.16)

Although he won his last two starts, Smith has had a number of wobbly moments, allowing a grand slam and seven hits allowed over six innings at the New York Mets on Monday after permitting four runs and eight hits in five innings at Arizona. The 28-year-old has surrendered 13 home runs over his last nine starts, giving up at least four runs six times in that span. Smith is 1-0 with a 0.75 ERA in a pair of starts versus Philadelphia this season and has stymied Rhys Hoskins (0-for-6) and Harper (0-for-4)

Eflin was on a roll before it ended with a thud Monday in Washington, when he served up three homers and was charged with five runs and eight hits over five innings. It ended a streak of 10 appearances in which he had not allowed more than three runs, including a superb effort at Atlanta in his previous turn when he permitted one unearned run and five hits over seven innings. Curtis Granderson is 5-for-14 against Eflin, who is 2-1 with a 4.32 ERA versus Miami this season, including a complete-game win.

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies SS Juan Segura (ankle) will not play in the rest of the series

2. Marlins OF Lewis Brinson exited Friday's game due to a right foot contusion.

3. Phillies C J.T. Realmuto underwent surgery on his right knee Friday.

PREDICTION: Marlins 5, Phillies 4