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| (Photo: miamiherald.com) |
Tonight, the Phillies will take on the Miami Marlins in a three game set. This is the first time, this season that the Phillies will visit the new Marlins Park. Coming into this series, the Phillies have a record of (36-42) and the Marlins have a record of (35-40). In terms of the NL East division race, the Phillies are in last place, while the Marlins are in fourth place. The Phillies are only a half game out of fourth place. This is a crucial series for the Phillies as they look to climb up the division standings. In terms of the regular season series so far between these two teams, they have split the six games between them with the Phillies losing the last series versus the Marlins.
On the mound for game one of this series for the Phillies it will be Cliff Lee (0-4, 3.72 ERA), who is still looking for his first win of the season. The last game Lee pitched in was last Sunday in the doubleheader versus the Tampa Bay Rays. Lee pitched seven innings and gave up five earned runs in the process as he would get the loss. On the mound for the Marlins it will be Josh Johnson (4-5, 3.96 ERA), who is not having a typical Josh Johnson season as he is coming back off Tommy John surgery. In his last game he pitched in versus the Blue Jays last Saturday, he pitched seven innings and only gave up one earned run. Johnson would earn a no decision. In game two of this series, on the mound for the Phillies it will be Cole Hamels (10-3, 3.03 ERA) and on the mound for the Marlins it will be Mark Buehrle (6-8, 3.55 ERA). Finally, in the last game of this series, on the mound for the Phillies it will be Joe Blanton (7-6, 4.87 ERA) and on the mound for the Marlins it will be Ricky Nolasco (6-6, 4.78 ERA).
A player to watch in this series is Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton. Stanton leads the Marlins in home runs with 17, leads them in RBIs with 46 and finally with an on base percentage of .353 which also leads the team. Stanton has been a consistent offensive threat for the Marlins and the Phillies’ pitchers have to watch how they pitch to him because if they make a mistake he will make them pay.
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