The Philadelphia Phillies (75-61) will host the Miami Marlins (55-80) in the final game of the three-game series on Thursday. The Phillies won the first two games 3-2 on Tuesday and 4-3 on Wednesday.The Phillies have won 10 of the 15 head-to-head games so far this season.
Miami is 30.5 games out of first in the NL East and has a -94 run differential this season. The Marlins have lost nine games in a row, with three of the last four losses coming by one run. Sandy Alcantara (1207, 2.36 ERA) will head to the mound for Miami. He's been one of the best pitchers in baseball this season, but he has been rocked in two of his last three starts and has given up at least four runs in four of his last seven starts. Alcantara has faced the Phillies four times this season with Miami losing three of those games. The 27-year-old flame thrower has a 3.03 ERA against the Phillies this season overall and is 4-4 with a 3.30 ERA in 13 road starts this season.
Grind doesn't stop even on the birthday??
Happy Birthday to our Ace. pic.twitter.com/QjjmWrERzh
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) September 7, 2022
How well Alcantra pitches could be irrelevant if the Marlins' offense continues to struggle. The Marlins have failed to score more than three runs in their last 10 games, and they've actually scored two or less in nine of those 10. It's certainly been another rough season for Marlins fans.