Phillies send top three starters to mound vs. Marlins as All-Star Break looms

Following their four-game split with the New York Mets and makeup game with the Baltimore Orioles, the Philadelphia Phillies will continue their division play against the Miami Marlins. Miami currently sits in last place in the National League East, 14 games out of first. Miami has given the Phillies some trouble this season, as each team has won one series against the other this year. 

The Phillies could stand to benefit from sweeping the lowly Marlins this weekend, as they currently sit a half game up on the Atlanta Braves and five-and-a-half games ahead of the Washington Nationals in the National League East. Luckily for the Phillies, they’ll send arguably their top three pitchers to the mound in their final series before the All-Star Break.

Pitching in the first game of the series is Jake Arrieta, who is coming off a great start this past Saturday against Pittsburgh. He went seven innings and only allowed two runs on six hits, along with racking up eight strikeouts and the win. After a start like that and going against a week Marlins team on Friday this is the perfect situation for Arrieta to get hot before the All-Star and break and into the second-half of the season. Pitching in game two is Phillies All-Star Aaron Nola. Nola was in All-Star form on Monday against the Mets, going seven shutout innings and recording 10 strikeouts. In game three, Zach Eflin will be on the mound, looking to bounce back after a shaky start on Monday against the Mets. He gave up three runs in five innings and walked away with a no-decision that game. These three will be facing off against three Marlins pitchers who all have two wins on the year and an ERA above four.   

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Jake Arrieta (6-6, 3.47 ERA, 4.08 FIP) vs. Wei-Yin Chen (2-6, 6.14 ERA, 5.09 FIP)

Game 2: Aaron Nola (12-2, 2.27 ERA, 2.62 FIP) vs. Trevor Richards (2-5, 5.24 ERA, 4.10 FIP)

Game 3: Zach Eflin (7-2, 3.15 ERA, 3.01 FIP) vs. Jose Urena (2-9, 4.13 ERA, 3.67 FIP)

Where to Watch/Listen

Game 1

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game 2

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game 3

TV: NBC Sports Philadelphia

Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Series Notes

• The Phillies season-high in runs came in a 20-1 win over the Marlins on Saturday, April 7. Maikel Franco has six RBIs in that game.
• The Marlins’ pitching staff is ranked 27th in the league in ERA at 4.81
• In the two series the teams have played this year, the home team has won the series.
• J.T. Realmuto is hitting .394/.400/.606 with two home runs and nine RBIs in July. This may be his final month in a Marlins uniform.