Series Preview: Marlins at Phillies, September 16-18

With the worst offense in the major leagues, the Marlins (55-94) seem to be an ideal opponent for a Phillies (69-80) team looking to avoid their first losing season since 2002.

Miami, which ranks last in the big leagues in batting average (.231), runs scored (479), home runs (90), OPS (.627), will face Phils ace Cliff Lee in the opener of a three-game series on Monday night at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phils have been victorious in five straight games against Miami.

Read ahead for full details in the pitching match ups and plenty more details from this series.

Monday, 7:05 PM. Sam Dyson (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Cliff Lee (13-6, 2.97 ERA). The 25-year-old Dyson will be making his first big league start. In five big league relief appearances, Dyson sports a 7.27 ERA and a .371 batting average against. In his last five starts, Lee has a 3-0 record with a 2.00 ERA. After throwing six complete game shutouts in 2011, Lee has completed one game, a shutout against Miami in May this year, in 58 starts since then. Lee has a 6-4 record with a 3.50 ERA in 13 games at home this season.

Tuesday, 7:05 PM. Brian Flynn (0-1, 10.13 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay (3-4, 7.28 ERA). Flynn, a 23-year-old lefty, was originally an 18th round draft pick by the Red Sox in 2008. In 27 minor league contests this year, Flynn sported a 7-12 record with a 2.62 ERA and a 8.22 K/9 mark. In seven home games this year, Halladay is 2-2 with a 6.56 ERA. In 16 career games against Miami, Halladay has an 8-5 record along with a 3.65 ERA. Halladay has tallied a 5.06 ERA in four starts since returning from the disabled list with a shoulder injury last month.

Wednesday, 7:05 PM. Brad Hand (0-1, 3.18 ERA) vs. Kyle Kendrick (10-13, 4.70 ERA). Hand, a lefty, was a 2nd round pick by the Marlins in 2008. In 17 big league games, the 23-year-old Hand has struck out 56 batters and walked 46 in 75 innings pitched. In his last seven starts, Kendrick has a 0-5 record with a 5.97 ERA. Kendrick is 6-5 with a 4.48 ERA in 15 home starts this year. Giancarlo Stanton is 3-for-18 (.167 avg) with a double and a homer in his career against Kendrick.

Adeiny Hechavarria is batting .201 in 55 games since the All-Star break. In 13 games against the Phillies this year, Hechavarria is sporting a .191 batting average.

Rookie outfielder Christian Yelich entered Sunday batting .375 in 14 September games. Yelich, 22, was the Marlins' first round draft choice in 2010. Overall in 50 games this season, Yelich is batting .283.

Chris Coghlan is batting .148 in 10 games against the Phillies this season. Coghlan is a .347 career hitter in 92 games after the All-Star break.

Cody Asche is 13-for-43 (.302 avg) with three homers and six RBI in 12 games this month.

Jimmy Rollins is batting .209 with a double in 13 games against the Marlins this year. Rollins has a .223 average in 51 games since the All-Star break.

Kevin Frandsen is batting .179 in 47 games since the All-Star break after batting .297 in 61 games prior to the midsummer classic. Frandsen is a career .301 hitter in 91 games at Citizens Bank Park.

In nine September games, Carlos Ruiz is batting .394 with four doubles and 12 RBI. Ruiz has posted a .320 average in 45 home games this season.

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Image- AP

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