Phillies seek revenge against Marlins
Two pitchers trying to solidify their rotation spots will meet Friday when the Miami Marlins begin a three-game series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies, who seek revenge for a recent sweep at Miami's hands.
The Marlins will start Elieser Hernandez (0-2, 4.34 ERA) while the Phillies will counter with Vince Velasquez (2-4, 4.40).
Velasquez was used in the bullpen for three weeks after he had mediocre results while starting earlier in the year. His past two outings have been as a starter, including Saturday against the Marlins, when he gave up just one hit and one run in five innings.
Hernandez is looking for his first career victory as a starter, having gone 0-7 with a 4.54 ERA in nine starts between 2018 and 2019.
He rejoined the Miami rotation in mid-June, and he iis 0-2 with a 3.78 ERA in his past three outings, fanning 19 and walking three in 16 2/3 innings.
Velasquez is 4-2 with 2.90 ERA in 12 career starts against the Marlins. This year he is 0-0 with a 1.64 ERA in two starts against Miami.
Hernandez is 1-0, 5.40 in three games (one start) against the Phillies in his career.
The Marlins won 5-3 when the two pitchers met on Saturday.
Velasquez retired 15 of the 16 batters he faced, allowing just a homer to JT Riddle. Hernandez gave up three runs on four hits in five innings, fanning six and walking two in a no-decision.
Current Phillies hitters are 7-for-30 (.259) against Hernandez with two homers. That includes Bryce Harper, who is 3-for-6 with a homer, and Rhys Hoskins, who is 2-for-4 with a homer.
Current Marlins are just 19-for-125 (.164) with three homers and 34 strikeouts against Velasquez.
While the Marlins were sweeping the Phillies in three games last weekend, Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler said, "We're not playing good baseball."
It's a different story now, though. The Phillies rallied with five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning Thursday to beat the Mets 6-3 and complete a four-game series sweep.
"We're excited about the second half," Hoskins said postgame, according to MLB.com. "Obviously a little bit of up and down in the first half. We've played some tough teams, we've had some tough stretches. There's some confidence building after that little skid."
The Marlins, meanwhile, are coming off a three-game sweep at the hands of the visiting Washington Nationals, capped by an 8-5 setback on Thursday night after Miami led of 4-1 early on.
The loss overshadowed a four-hit night by leadoff hitter Miguel Rojas. The shortstop, who is now hitting .286, drove in two runs and scored twice.
"I think Miggy best represents our club -- a guy that plays every day, battles every day," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said Wednesday while endorsing Rojas to make the National League All-Star team. "He can play all over the field. he really knows how to play. If you ask me to say who I think our guy is if you're going to say you have to take one, without dismissing anybody else, I think Miggy is a great representative for us."
--Field Level Media
