Miami @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2019 ) Miami 3, Philadelphia 9

The Philadelphia Phillies have not had a winning season since 2011 and all it will take for them to end that drought is a victory against the worst team in the National League. Assured of their first non-losing record since going 81-81 in 2012, the Phillies look to end the season on a high note when they go for a three-game sweep of the visiting Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon.

Philadelphia dropped below .500 for the first time this season after suffering its sixth consecutive defeat Thursday in Washington, but rebounded to take the first two against Miami, including a 9-3 drubbing Saturday. Bryce Harper has five RBIs in the series after swatting a three-run homer Saturday to become the fourth Phillies player with at least 42 extra-base hits at Citizens Bank Park in a year. Starlin Castro is 4-for-9 with two RBIs in the series for Miami, giving him 15 in 18 games versus the Phillies this year. Miguel Rojas is 5-for-10 in the series and will perform double duty on Sunday, taking the place of Don Mattingly and serving as player-manager.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (5-14, 3.96 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Blake Parker (3-2, 4.18).

Alcantara has been victorious in only one of his last 17 appearances and saw another solid outing go to waste on Tuesday when he struck out six and permitted two runs and six hits over seven innings in a no-decision at the New York Mets. It was the seventh time in his last nine appearances that the 24-year-old Dominican pitched at least seven innings and his sixth quality start in that span. Harper is 4-for-9 against Alcantara, who split a pair of decisions and owns a 4.97 ERA versus the Phillies this year.

Aaron Nola, a 12-game winner despite a seven-start drought dating to last month, was scheduled for the finale but manager Gabe Kapler elected to hold him out, opting instead to go with a bullpen game. Blake Parker, who tossed a scoreless inning and was one of seven relievers who covered the final 11 frames in in Friday's 15-inning series opener, has not allowed a run over his last four appearances and will serve as the opener. Parker, who had 10 saves with Minnesota this season, has 29 strikeouts in 24 innings with Philadelphia.

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies INF/OF Scott Kingery sat out Saturday and will miss the finale due to blurred vision.

2. Marlins OF Harold Ramirez is 8-for-23 against the Phillies this season.

3. Philadelphia has hit 44 homers this month, tying a franchise record.

PREDICTION: Marlins 5, Phillies 4