The Miami Marlins will look to extend their winning streak to a season-high five games and record their second sweep in the past three series when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of a three-game set on Thursday afternoon.
The Diamondbacks, who have lost nine of their last 12 games, are in danger of falling to .500 for the first time since May 18.
The Marlins have outscored the Diamondbacks 18-6 in the first two games of the series. Owen Caissie and Kyle Stowers homered in an 8-0 victory Wednesday for Miami, which has won three straight series.
“You win multiple series in a row, it generally takes kind of clicking in all facets,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said. “We still have a long way to go. We had dug ourselves in a bit of a hole, and I’m glad we’re playing much better.”
Miami’s Tyler Phillips (0-1, 2.08 ERA) is set to oppose Arizona’s Merrill Kelly (5-4, 5.71) in a battle of right-handers on Thursday.
Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez has four straight multiple-hit games. He improved his MLB-leading batting average to .342 with two hits and two RBIs Wednesday.
The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, have been shut out five times this season, including twice in the last eight days. They were 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position Wednesday.
“Probably inconsistent,” manager Torey Lovullo said when asked to describe his team’s offense. “You have to be able to execute at the most critical time.”
Phillips, who has been used in relief most of the season, will make his third start in his last four appearances. He has gone at least five innings once, in a 6-1 loss to the New York Mets on May 30, when he gave up three runs on six hits in five innings.
He will make his first appearance since being struck in the right foot by Yandy Diaz’s comebacker in the fifth inning of a 6-0 loss to Tampa Bay last Friday, when he went 4 2/3 innings in bulk relief. He stayed on the mound into the seventh inning despite the injury.
“It’s a different role, you try to figure it out,” Phillips said. “End of the day, my past two outings I haven’t thrown enough strikes. Pitching is a lot easier when you’re throwing the ball in the zone.”
Phillips faced the Diamondbacks twice in relief in 2025 and gave up six runs (five earned) and two homers in 2 2/3 innings.
Kelly gave up seven runs and six hits — including three homers — in a 14-1 loss to Washington in his last outing Friday after winning his previous four decisions with quality starts.
The Nationals started six left-handed hitters and two switch-hitters against Kelly, and lefties Luis Garcia Jr., James Wood and Daylen Lile homered.
Kelly has given up five home runs in his last two starts.
“It’s a different sort of challenge, but at the end of the day it’s still my job to get those guys out, regardless of what side of the plate they hit from,” Kelly said.
“When I go back and look at them (homers), two of the three were actually pretty good pitches. The first one (Garcia) was way in off the plate. Probably one of the craziest home run swings I’ve experienced. Just a bad day.”
Kelly is 1-4 with a 5.59 ERA in seven career starts against the Marlins. Lopez is 5-for-7 with three doubles against him.
–Field Level Media
