Marlins at Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies will honor a key member of their 2008 World Series team during a time in which the current club isn't playing so hot. Six-time All-Star Chase Utley likely will receive a hero's welcome in the City of Brotherly Love on Friday as the slumping Phillies begin a seven-game homestand with the opener of a three-game series against the Miami Marlins.
Jay Bruce highlighted his three-hit performance in Thursday's 7-4 setback to Washington by belting his sixth homer since joining Philadelphia earlier this month. The 32-year-old Bruce is 16-for-46 with 15 RBIs and 10 runs scored for the Phillies, who sustained their fourth loss in a row and eighth in 10 outings to fall 4 1/2 games behind National League East-leading Atlanta. Cellar-dwelling Miami hasn't fared much better of late, although it followed up losing 10 of its previous 13 with a 7-6 victory in 11 innings over St. Louis on Thursday. J.T. Riddle belted a two-run homer in the final frame for the Marlins, who have lost five of the seven encounters with the Phillies this season.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara (3-6, 3.73 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (6-1, 4.89)
Alcantara has visited opposite ends of the spectrum in two career starts against Philadelphia, as he scattered three hits over seven scoreless innings in a 2-1 win on Sept. 5, 2018 before permitting six runs on 11 hits over five frames of a 9-1 setback on April 12. Jean Segura (3-for-3) and Bryce Harper (3-for-5) have flustered the 23-year-old Dominican in small sample sizes, although the hurler has gotten the better of Bruce (0-for-5). Alcantara is coming off a no-decision in which he yielded three runs on eight hits in six innings against Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Nola has struggled in two of his last three starts, as he allowed six runs on eight hits over 5 1/3 innings of an 8-2 loss at San Diego on June 3 before permitting five runs across 4 1/3 frames in a no-decision at Atlanta on Saturday. The 26-year-old was taken deep twice versus the Braves after surrendering four homers in his previous nine outings. Nola sports a 3-4 and 3.48 ERA mark in 11 career encounters with Miami, although he was left with a no-decision on April 25 despite yielding one run over 6 2/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Miami 1B-RF Garrett Cooper, who is riding a 12-game hitting streak, is nursing tightness in his left triceps.
2. Philadelphia OF Scott Kingery is 14-for-33 with five homers, nine RBIs and eight runs scored in his last nine contests.
3. Marlins C Jorge Alfaro's availability for the series opener against his former team is in jeopardy after he left Thursday's tilt to be evaluated for a concussion.