Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Posted: 12 p.m.
CSNPhilly.com
Phillies (40-26) vs. Marlins (32-33), 7:05 p.m. on WPHL
Starting Pitchers
Phillies: Cole Hamels (8-2, 2.58) is 4-0 with a 1.70 ERA in his last five starts. His career record against Florida is just 4-7 with a 3.65 ERA, but he held the Marlins to two runs in seven innings in a no-decision on April 17.
Marlins: Chris Volstad (2-6, 5.51) beat the Phillies on May 25, 2009. But since that day, the big righty is just 0-2 with a 6.33 ERA in his last five starts against them. In his last eight starts overall, Volstad is 0-5 with a 5.60 ERA.
Previous games
The Phillies lost their series opener to the Cubs on Thursday before rallying to win the next three games of the weekend set. In Sunday's finale, Ryan Howard delivered a go-ahead, two-run single in the seventh inning, this after getting the Phils on the board with an RBI double in the first. Roy Oswalt allowed three runs in seven innings to pick up the win.
The Marlins went 1-10 on their recent homestand, including losing the final three games to the Diamondbacks over the weekend. Overall, the Fish are 3-14 in their last 17 games.
MLB
Head-to-head
The Phillies are 3-2 against the Marlins this season. They split a rain-shortened two-game set at the Bank in mid-April before winning two of three in Florida from May 9-11.
Whos hot?
Chase Utley went 2-for-3 with two runs scored on Sunday and enters this game on a five-game hitting streak. Shane Victorino scored six runs in the final three games against the Cubs. Rookie reliever Michael Stutes worked a scoreless eighth on Sunday and has given up a run in just three of his 21 appearances this season.
For Florida, Emilio Bonifacio has been on fire over his last five games, going 11-for-21 with multiple hits in all five games. Gaby Sanchez is 5-for-10 with three RBIs over his last three games. Mike Stanton has two doubles, three homers and eight RBIs in his last six games.
Storylines
Hamels is looking to join Roy Halladay as the National League's only nine-game winners. ... The Marlins are actually a better road team than a home team this season - by far. They are 15-22 at home and 17-11 on the road. ... Howard is hitting just .216 in his last 10 games, but he is 11-for-23 (.478) with six home runs against Volstad in his career. ... The Marlins could activate star shortstop Hanley Ramirez (back) in time for tonight's game.
Sound off
Given the Marlins' struggles this month, do you still consider them a threat to the Phillies in the NL East?