The Philadelphia Phillies will look to continue their push toward both the National League East title and a potential first-round bye in the postseason on Sunday afternoon when they vie for a three-game sweep of the host Miami Marlins.
The Phillies (83-59) have won three games in a row and seven of their last nine after posting a 9-3 victory over the Marlins (65-77) on Friday and a 4-2 triumph on Saturday.
Fast starts have been the norm for Philadelphia in this series. The Phillies scratched for single runs in the first and second innings on Friday before Bryce Harper hit a two-run homer in the opening frame on Saturday.
“Getting Harper to hit the ball out of the ballpark is huge,” Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. “Either him or (Kyle) Schwarber, if they hit a home run early, it just seems to energize the entire club, and that big. Get up 2-0, get them on their heels a bit. It’s good momentum.”
Phillies shortstop Trea Turner is expected to return to the lineup for the series finale after enjoying a planned day off on Saturday. Turner is 13-for-27 at the plate with six RBIs in his previous six games.
“We planned this,” Thomson said. “Just to get him off the turf for a day.”
Brandon Marsh ripped one of his two doubles on Saturday in the fourth inning and scored on Harrison Bader’s bloop single. Bader later scored on a sacrifice fly by Bryson Stott.
Bader, however, likely will get a day off on Sunday in favor of fellow outfielder Nick Castellanos, who has sat out the team’s past three games.
Former Marlins Jesus Luzardo and J.T. Realmuto gave Miami fits on Saturday. The former tossed six strong innings, and the latter threw out two would-be base stealers, including Maximo Acosta at third base in the seventh inning.
“No problem with the aggressiveness,” Miami manager Clayton McCullough said. “It’s more about taking us through the thought process. What did you have on (pitcher David) Robertson? What did you feel like your jump was like? It’s more asking those questions and less about it being so black and white where ‘you were out, so it wasn’t a great decision with (Agustin Ramirez) hitting and down two’, whereas if he’s safe, then it’s just automatically a great play.”
The Marlins, who have lost seven of nine meetings with the Phillies this season, have just 12 runs during a five-game losing streak.
Perhaps they will be able to make a stand in the series finale against Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker (4-7, 3.92 ERA), who will look to snap a five-game winless streak when he takes the mound on Sunday.
Walker allowed five runs on seven hits — including two homers — in four innings in a no-decision against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday. The Phillies took a 10-8 win.
He is 6-3 with a 3.46 ERA in 17 career appearances (14 starts) against Miami.
The Marlins have yet to announce their starter for Sunday’s game.
–Field Level Media
