Series Preview: Marlins at Phillies, July 24-26

Rhys Hoskins, image- Jay Floyd

At long last, it is Opening Day for the Phillies. The delayed season, a result of the global coronavirus pandemic, gets underway for the Phils and Marlins on Friday, as the two teams open a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

Entering the 2020 campaign with new manager Joe Girardi at the helm, the Phillies hope this is the year they can return to the postseason for the first time since 2011 after under-performing and faltering down the stretch in each of the past two seasons.

On Thursday, Major League Baseball announced arrangements for an expanded playoff format this year, increasing the amount of post-season teams from 10 to 16.

Coming off back-to-back last place finishes in the National League East division, Miami looks to surprise many and contend for one of those spots. The Marlins lost 105 games last year.

Read ahead for specifics on the pitching match ups and more from this series.

Friday, 7/24/20...7:05PM. RHP Sandy Alcantara (6-14, 3.88 ERA in 2019) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (12-7, 3.87 ERA in 2019). The 24-year-old Miami starter had a 2-0 record with a 1.32 ERA in a pair of starts at Citizens Bank Park last season. In four career starts against the Phils, Alcantara has a .130 batting average against. In 13 career starts against the Marlins, Nola sports a 3-6 record with a 3.28 ERA. Nola possesses a 3.03 ERA and a 10.5 K/9 mark in 65 career regular season games at Citizens Bank Park. This will mark Nola's third straight Opening Day start. Friday's game will reportedly feature a pregame ceremony in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Saturday, 7/25/20...4:05PM. LHP Caleb Smith (10-11, 4.52 ERA in 2019) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (11-8, 3.96 ERA for the Mets last year). Smith, who will turn 29 years old next week, had a 5.40 ERA in 15 road starts last season. In four career starts facing the Phils, Smith has a 1-2 record with a 4.50 ERA. In 14 career starts against Miami, the 30-year-old Wheeler's got a 1.91 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. Originally, a 1st round pick (6th overall) of San Francisco in 2009, Wheeler was traded to the Mets for Carlos Beltran in 2011 and signed with the Phils as a free agent over this past off-season.

Sunday, 7/26/20...1:05PM.RHP Jose Urena (4-10, 5.21 ERA in 2019) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (7-8, 4.91 ERA in 2019). Urena, 28, notched a 1.81 ERA in three appearances against the Phillies last year. Urena sports a 5.79 ERA in nine career outings against the Phils. Jay Bruce is 5-for-16 (.313 avg) with a double, two homers and six RBI in his career against Uerana. Velasquez, 28, had a 4.61 ERA in 11 home outings last season. In five appearances against the Marlins in 2019, Velasquez notched a 7.06 ERA. In 46 career games at CBP Velasquez holds a 13-15 record with a 4.60 ERA.

Colombian catcher and former Phillie Jorge Alfaro tallied a .262/.312/.425 slash line last year in his first full season with the Marlins, following a trade that sent JT Realmuto to the Phils. In 10 career games against the Phillies, Alfaro sports a .432 average with three home runs.

Former Phillies prospect Jonathan Villar has a .246 average with four home runs and 11 RBI in 18 career games facing the Phils. It has been nearly ten years since Villar was traded to Houston along with J.A. Happ and Anthony Gose for Roy Oswalt.

In 81 home games last year, outfielder Bryce Harper posted a .264 batting average with 20 home runs and 63 RBI. Harper is a .293 hitter with 28 homers and 92 RBI in 131 career games facing the Marlins.

First baseman Rhys Hoskins performed much better against lefties (.980 OPS) than he did against righties (.764 OPS) last season. Hoskins, the Phillies' 5th round draft choice in 2014, has enjoyed success against the Marlins in his career, as he's tallied a 1.024 OPS in 48 games against them.

Infielder Jean Segura may be considered day to day to start the season, after being hit by a pitch in the left hand in an exhibition game this week. Segura has a .348 batting average against the Marlins for his career.

The Phillies (.246) and Marlins (.241) ranked 22nd and 26th in the big leagues respectively in team batting average last season.

PhoulBallz Interview: BlueClaws OF Justin Crawford

Justin Crawford w/ junior reporter Evan At the age of 19, outfielder Justin Crawford has played his way into the conversation of being considered as one of baseball's top prospects. The son of four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, Justin has looked every bit as impressive as his position as the 17th overall draft selection last year would have most fans thinking he should be. He opened the season with Class A Clearwater where, in 69 games, he notched a .344/.399/.478 slash line. And since mid-August when he was promoted to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, the younger Crawford has posted a .300/.364/.440 line. He's also stolen 44 bases in 52 attempts overall. And while the BlueClaws enter the final week of the regular season 1/2 game out of first place in their division, I spoke with Justin Crawford about the team's hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2018. I also asked Justin about the similarities and differences between his skillset and his father'

Jersey Shore clinches playoff berth on final day of regular season

Ottto Kemp, image- Jay Floyd With an extra-inning victory over first-half division champions Hudson Valley on Sunday, the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws clinched the team's first playoff appearance since 2018, winning the second-half division title. Key performers in the BlueClaws' clincher were righty hurler Jason Ruffcorn, who threw three innings of relief to earn the victory and third baseman Otto Kemp, notched three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and plated the game winning run in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly. On top of that, Kemp, who turned 24-years-old on Saturday, made an absolute game-saving defensive play to help the club hold their lead in the bottom of the 11th frame. One of Jersey Shore's most consistent performers all season long has been right-handed reliever Cam Wynne. The Phillies' 20th round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska. In 34 appearances, one start, the 24-year-old tallied a 1-1 record with one save, a 2.44 ERA and a .190 batti

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he's taken at

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog