The visiting Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins will have something in common when they begin a four-game series on Monday: They’re both looking to build on a successful weekend.
Philadelphia completed a three-game home sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with an 11-4 victory on Sunday, while Miami beat the host Washington Nationals 3-1 on Sunday for its first three-game sweep of the season.
Nick Castellanos hit a grand slam and Alec Bohm also homered on Sunday for Philadelphia, which has won five of six. The Phillies outscored the Blue Jays by a 22-6 margin in the three-game series.
Philadelphia has received a spark from rookie infielder Otto Kemp, who was promoted from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on June 7 after star Bryce Harper landed on the injured list with inflammation in his right wrist.
Kemp, 25, had four hits and two RBIs on Sunday and is 10-for-24 (.417) in his last six games.
“He’s great; he’s a pro,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “He’s got some swagger to him. He’s played good defense. … I’ve liked watching him since last year in the Arizona Fall League. I just like his demeanor and his presence.”
Kemp will seek to maintain his hot streak against Miami, which has won four of its last five games.
Marlins outfielder Dane Myers is batting .333 after going 8-for-13 with a home run and three RBIs during the last three games. The 29-year-old said he’s not focused on his day-to-day statistics.
“Not so much the numbers,” Myers said. “I think just being able to go out there and play free. I’ll take a peek at the numbers some, but it’s nice to go out every day and kind of be myself and play the way I like to play.”
Monday’s series opener features a pair of right-handers as Phillies rookie Mick Abel (1-0, 2.35 ERA) faces Marlins veteran Sandy Alcantara (3-7, 7.14).
After recording a 0.79 ERA in his first two major league starts covering 11 1/3 innings, Abel allowed three runs over four innings in a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs last Tuesday.
The 23-year-old Abel is filling in for Aaron Nola, who is expected to be out until after the All-Star break with a stress reaction in his right rib cage.
“What I’ve seen so far from Mick is a guy that’s really mature,” Thomson said. “His poise and composure is fantastic. Strike-throwing ability, being able to spin the baseball and spin it for strikes.”
Abel is set to make his first appearance against the Marlins.
Alcantara, 29, snapped a streak of seven straight losing decisions by tossing six scoreless innings in a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates last Tuesday. He has allowed a total of two runs across 12 innings over his last two starts.
“It’s been a long time without winning the game,” Alcantara said, “so very happy and proud of myself, to be patient, to be hard-working every day. (It) doesn’t matter the circumstance. Feel very happy with the way that I’ve competed my last two outings.”
J.T. Realmuto is 11-for-36 (.306) with two homers against Alcantara, who is 6-9 with a 3.78 ERA in 20 career starts versus Philadelphia. He gave up six runs over two innings in a 7-2 road loss to the Phillies on April 18.
–Field Level Media
