Phillies (62-97) vs. Marlins (69-90)
7:05 p.m. on CSN
UPDATED 3:30 p.m.: Tonight's game has been postponed because of the weather.
Weather permitting, the Phillies will host the Miami Marlins tonight to open their final series of the season. Heavy rain and winds are expected all night.
But if the game gets in, here are five things to know:
1. Franco's back
The Phillies on Thursday activated Maikel Franco from the disabled list, but the rookie third baseman didn't play in the team's 3-0 win over the Mets. Franco is expected to play tonight.
Franco, who has been out since Aug. 11 with a fractured left wrist, is hitting .277 on the season with 13 home runs and 48 RBIs in 77 games.
Before his injury, the 23-year-old was in the thick of the NL Rookie of the Year race. He was named the NL Rookie of the Month for June after hitting eight homers and driving in 24 runs.
MLB
For the Phils, Franco's return will be welcomed as the club tries to avoid losing 100 games. They would need to be swept by Miami to get to 100 losses.
2. Ending on a high note
Aaron Harang (6-15, 4.86) will make his final start of the season, and perhaps as a Phillie.
The right-hander earned his first win since July 1 on Sept. 22, tossing seven innings of two-run ball in the Phillies' 6-2 win over the Marlins.
After struggling for much of the summer, Harang has pitched better in his last three starts in which he hasn't allowed more than three runs and the team has won each of those games.
In two starts against the Marlins this season, Harang has allowed four runs over 14 innings while keeping Miami hitters to a .188 average.
Harang signed a one-year deal with the Phillies last offseason, and with the team's emphasis on starting pitching, it's unlikely they'll bring him back next year.
3. Scouting Nicolino
The Phillies will face Marlins rookie Justin Nicolino, who will look to dominate the Phillies' lineup again.
Making his fifth career start Aug. 22, Nicolino surrendered two runs over 7 2/3 innings while striking out four against the Phils, who oddly enough managed to win the game after he exited.
Nicolino is having an up-and-down season, with a 4-4 record and a 4.16 ERA, but he is coming off a strong performance against the Braves.
On Sept. 26, Nicolino allowed one run and two hits in seven innings in a 6-2 win over the Braves. In his previous three starts, however, he allowed 15 runs over 16 innings.
4. Making his case
With a potential opportunity to earn a platoon next season at first base with Ryan Howard, Darin Ruf is having himself a strong finish.
In the Phillies' sweep of the Mets, Ruf was 3 for 12 with two homers and seven RBIs. His two-run homer Thursday provided Jerad Eickhoff all the run support he needed.
The Phillies have given Ruf more playing time in the last month and the righty is taking advantage of the at-bats.
He's hitting. 244 with seven homers, 21 RBIs and an .852 OPS in his last 23 games.
“He’s swinging the bat very well,” Mackanin said Thursday. “We’re trying to get him at-bats so we can make a decision on him for next year. He’s swinging the bat better now against right-handers and he’s just been dominant against left-handers. It’s good to see.”
This season, Ruf has been hitting lefties well, which helps his case. He's hitting .374 on the season, and has a majors-best 1.122 OPS against lefties in 108 plate appearances.
Ruf will look to continue his dominance against lefties with another on on the hill tonight for Miami.
5. This and that
• The Phillies will not face Giancarlo Stanton this weekend, as the Marlins shut him down Tuesday. He's been out since late June with a broken hand. In his career, he's hit 17 homers against the Phils.
• Freddy Galvis is hitting .308 against Miami this season, with 10 RBIs in 15 games.
• Martin Prado, who's always hit the Phillies well, has 14 RBIs in 13 games against the Phils this season. Prado has 15 homers, 64 RBIs and a .307 average in 110 games against the Phils.