Gameday: Phillies (13-16) vs. Marlins (8-21)
Ricky Nolasco (2-2, 3.82) vs. Jonathan Pettibone (1-0, 4.35)
TIME: 7:05, Citizens Bank Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet
Weather: 59, clear
Media: Twitter and Facebook
It’s not often that you’ll hear me say the Phillies need to sweep a team, especially in a four-game series. But after the debacle in Cleveland killed any momentum they had mounted, the Phils need to sweep the Stanton-less Fish. Not because it’s do or die, or anything like that. But because Miami is really, really bad. And four straight wins would put the Phils even at .500 going into a tough west coast swing. They got off to a good start last night with a 7-2 victory.
It’ll be on rookie Jonathan Pettibone to keep the trend going when he takes the ball tonight. In two starts, Pettibone has been more than adequate. The Phillies have won both of his starts, and he has struck out ten while walking just two in 10.1 IP. Against a light-hitting Miami team, expect Pettibone to make it through the sixth inning for the first time in his young career.
Opposing Pettibone will be the Marlins ace, Ricky Nolasco. Nolasco has been a bright spot for the Fish,and has accounted for 25% of their wins. In his first start against the Phillies last month, Nolasco pitched six innings of one-run baseball. For his career, Nolasco has a very impressive 2.98 ERA in seven starts at CBP. Keep an eye on Domonic Brown, who has a 1.444 career OPS against Nolasco in limited at-bats.
Lineup: Rollins SS, Utley 2B, M. Young 3B, Howard 1B, D. Young RF, Brown LF, Ruiz C, Revere CF, Pettibone P
Typically I like to pick a craft beer for these, but the Marlins always remind me of Margaritaville’s Landshark. Partly because of the state of Florida and its tropical climate, but mainly because Landshark Stadium was the name of their former home in their last season there. Landshark is an Island Lager without a lot of flash. It is, in essence, a much-improved version of Corona. Easy on the eyes and even easier on the pallet, Landshark is a beer ideal for a lager fan looking for a quality beer without an overly complex taste. It will compliment literally anything you want to have to eat with it. – RD
