Marlins at Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies provided a positive memory to what was a forgettable road trip, with Rhys Hoskins' slow and purposeful home run trot perhaps serving as the catalyst to get the slumping team off and running again. The Phillies look to get it in gear on Thursday when they begin a nine-game homestand with the opener of a four-game series versus the Miami Marlins.
Philadelphia dropped five of six and was outscored 18-2 during its three-game losing skid before Hoskins' blast and 34-second jaunt rubbed salt in the wound of a 6-0 victory over the New York Mets in Wednesday's finale of the three-game series. J.T. Realmuto belted a double and scored a run in the finale against the Mets and went 2-for-9 in the previous set versus his former team. Jorge Alfaro, who was acquired in the deal for Realmuto, homered in Miami's 3-1 win over Cleveland on Tuesday before scoring a run in the 6-2 setback the following day. "The guy has been great for us," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. "Jorge comes in enthusiastic every day and has tons of energy. He also is another guy who asks a lot of questions and he's fearless at the plate. When he steps in there, there is no give in at all."
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins LH Caleb Smith (2-0, 2.35 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (2-0, 6.84)
Smith began the season with a pair of strong starts before stepping up his game in his last two, allowing one hit over six scoreless innings in a 10-3 win versus Philadelphia on April 13 and one run while striking out eight against Washington six nights later. The 27-year-old didn't walk a batter versus the Nationals after issuing three free passes in his previous outings. Andrew McCutchen is 3-for-7 with a homer against Smith, but the hurler has held everyone else on the Phillies to 2-for-24.
Although Nola recorded his second win and struck out nine batters at Colorado on Saturday, he also surrendered multiple homers for the third time in four outings. The 25-year-old limited the damage to three runs, a much more palatable total after allowing 16 in his previous three starts (13 1/3 innings). Nola, who owns a 3-4 mark with a 3.71 ERA in 10 career starts versus Miami, has struggled against Martin Prado (7-for-18) and Brian Anderson (5-for-14).
WALK-OFFS
1. Anderson has reached base safely in 12 straight games.
2. Philadelphia RF Bryce Harper, who had an RBI double on Wednesday, is just 8-for-39 at home this season.
3. Marlins OF Curtis Granderson went 1-for-10 in the previous series versus the Phillies.