Series Preview: Phillies at Marlins, May 6-8

Fresh off a series loss on the road in St. Louis that saw the cruising Phillies (16-13) drop three of four, the team heads south to take on the division rival Marlins (15-12) in the three-game set this weekend.

The Phils had been winners of 15 of their last 21 games prior to visiting the Cardinals. Now, they'll look to get back on the winning track in Miami.

This will be the first meeting between the two clubs this season.

Friday, 7:10 PM. RHP Vince Velasquez (4-1, 1.44 ERA) vs. LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-1, 4.26 ERA). In two road starts this season, Velasquez has a 2-0 record with a 2.25 ERA. Velasquez's .164 batting average against ranks 6th best in MLB so far this season. He has not allowed a run in three of his five outings this season. Chen threw eight shutout innings in his lone career start against the Phillies last June. Chen sports a 4.91 ERA in three home starts this season.

Saturday, 7:10 PM. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-2, 4.88 ERA) vs. RHP Tom Koehler (2-3, 7.25 ERA). In four career starts against the Marlin, the 29-year-old Hellickson has a 0-1 record with a 3.97 ERA. Hellickson sports a 3.00 ERA in four road starts this season. Ichiro Suzuki is 2-for-19 (.105 avg) in his career against Hellickson. Koehler, 29, has a 2-3 record with a 4.53 ERA in 11 games against the Phillies. Koehler has a 3.72 ERA in 50 career games at Marlins Park. Odubel Herrera is 3-for-8 (.375 avg) against Koehler.

Sunday, 1:10 PM. RHP Aaron Nola (2-2, 2.93 ERA) vs. LHP Justin Nicolino (2-0, 2.70 ERA). Nola tossed eight shutout innings in his lone career start against the Marlins. Nola, 22, has a 2-0 record and a 0.64 ERA in four road starts this season. Nicolino, 24, was a 2nd round draft pick (by Toronto) in 2010. He is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts against the Phillies.

Maikel Franco is batting .314 with four homers in 14 road games this year. Franco is 1-for-17 (.059 avg) in his last five games.

Odubel Herrera's .447 OBP is tied for second best in the majors. The 24-year-old lefty batter has a .368 batting average in 19 career games against the Marlins.

In 10 games against the Marlins, Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez has a 2-0 record with a 0.95 ERA and a .203 batting average against.

In 70 career games against the Phils, outfielder Giancarlo Stanton has a .266 batting average with 17 home runs and 38 RBI. The righty batting slugger is hitting .400 with six home runs over his last 10 games.

Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria has a .284 batting average with a homer and 19 RBI in 43 games against the Phils. The righty hitting Cuban has a .184 average in 11 home games this year.

The Phillies' team batting average against left-handers is .166, worst in the majors.

Marlins' bullpen ERA- 3.29 (12th in MLB)
Phillies' bullpen ERA- 4.32 (22nd in MLB)

This Guy Speaks For All of You

This individual, interviewed by FOX 29 on Friday as the Phillies arrived back at Citizens Bank Park, said it best. When asked how he felt regarding the Phillies, he told Steve Keeley that he was, "Stoked, baby!" The unidentified phanatic then proclaimed, "We are talking about the Fightins here, the Fightins! Said!" Check out the media player below, as the transcribed version certainly does not do this phireball of phandom justice. The Phillies forced game 6 of the National League Championship Series with a 4-2 victory over the Giants in San Francisco on Thursday night. Game 6 will feature Roy Oswalt vs. Jonathan Sanchez in a return pitching match up from game 2. First pitch is scheduled for 7:57 pm EST at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Be sure to tune in on 97.3 ESPN's Weekend Sports Guide with Tyrone Johnson this afternoon around 1:15pm to hear me chatting about the Phillies! 97.3 is based in Atlantic City. You can listen live online HERE . _________

Who is Your Favorite Willie 'Mays' Hayes?

PhoulBallz.com is wondering which individual who has portrayed Willie "Mays" Hayes is the favorite of the public. Hayes, of course, is the character made famous in the Major League motion picture series. In Major League , Willie "Mays" Hayes was portrayed by budding Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes, who would go on to action movie superstardom. Snipes has starred in major motion pictures like the Blade trilogy, Passenger 57 , Undisputed and many more. Snipes remains an impact Hollywood actor, despite legal troubles related to income tax evasion. Snipes was replaced for the sequel, Major League II when his busy career, and possibly the film's budget, would not allow him to return, by Omar Epps. Another budding actor, Epps had previously worked with director David S. Ward, on the film The Program , and landed the role of Hayes, who had become a Hollywood action star over the off-season that occured between the two films. Epps' career portraying athletes rol

Wassup with dat? Vito Friscia edition

Friscia, image- Jay Floyd What's up with that Vito Friscia guy? Well, he's a 24-year-old righty batting catcher that was drafted by the Phillies out of Hofstra University in 2019 with the team's final selection, 1200th overall, in the 40th round. But what's his deal? Friscia opened the season with Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, where, in 16 games, he notched a .264 batting average with a pair of home runs, five doubles and seven RBI. Last week, when Triple-A Lehigh Valley needed a reserve backstop, Friscia was promoted to fill their void. When Rafael Marchan returned from a short stint in the big leagues, Friscia was assigned to the Double-A Reading roster. Is he just a backup catcher? For now, it seems that's his role. But check out this quote from BlueClaws skipper Chris Adamson from earlier this month when I asked him about which player stood out to him as a guy that deserved recognition, but may not be getting it. "Vito Friscia is a guy that, earl

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