Phillies at Marlins
The Miami Marlins' nine-game homestand began in much the same way as their road trip ended -- with the club scraping to find offense and on the short end of another lopsided defeat. The Philadelphia Phillies ended a modest two-game slide by beating up on Miami in the series opener and look to send the Marlins to a sixth consecutive loss on Saturday night.
Andrew McCutchen had a three-run blast among three hits in Friday's 9-1 rout, boosting his career numbers to a .351 batting average with five homers and 21 RBIs in 24 games in Miami. Jean Segura matched McCutchen with three hits to give him multiple hits in six of 12 games for Philadelphia, which had surrendered 25 runs in back-to-back losses to Washington. The Marlins, who have been outscored by a staggering 30-2 margin in their last four games, have pushed across a National League-worst 35 runs. Austin Dean, recalled from Triple-A New Orleans to help provide a spark to the stagnant offense, delivered the only run with a sacrifice fly to help Miami avert a fourth shutout in seven games.
TV: 6:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia-Plus, FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Zach Eflin (2-0, 0.75 ERA) vs. Marlins LH Caleb Smith (0-0, 4.09)
Eflin won for the second time in as many starts with a strong performance versus Minnesota last time out, allowing only a leadoff homer and six hits over seven innings in the 2-1 victory. The 25-year-old worked five scoreless innings in his season debut at Washington, striking out nine and limiting the Nationals to three hits. Curtis Granderson is 4-for-8 with a pair of home runs off Eflin, who made three starts against the Marlins in 2018 and was 2-0 with a 2.21 ERA in 20 1/3 innings.
Smith has turned in a pair of decent performances but has nothing to show for it as he prepares to face his third consecutive NL East opponent. The 27-year-old picked up his second straight no-decision with six innings of three-run ball at Atlanta last time out after striking out eight and permitting two runs over five innings in his season debut versus the New York Mets. Smith lost his lone start versus Philadelphia a year ago, walking six in three innings of three-run ball.
WALK-OFFS
1. Phillies C J.T. Realmuto, an All-Star with the Marlins last year, had two hits in his return to Miami.
2. Marlins C Jorge Alfaro, acquired in the trade for Realmuto, is 6-for-14 over the last four games.
3. Phillies RF Bryce Harper is 7-for-12 in three road games this season.