Phillies at Marlins
The Philadelphia Phillies could not build on a four-game winning streak in the series opener and look to end their misery against the host Miami Marlins when the National League East rivals meet for the second of three contests Saturday afternoon. The Phillies won four in a row against the New York Mets at home to start the week but dropped a 6-2 decision at NL-worst Miami for their four straight loss against the Marlins.
Maikel Franco is 8-for-18 during a five-game hitting streak, but Philadelphia managed just four hits in Friday’s loss as slugger Bryce Harper went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and has just one hit in 13 at-bats over the past four contests. The Phillies will try to get back on the winning track when they send Zach Eflin to the mound Saturday, while Miami counters with rookie right-hander Jordan Yamamoto, who has earned the win in each of his first three career starts with the Marlins. Garrett Cooper had three hits and two RBIs while Brian Anderson was 2-for-4 with three runs batted in for Miami in Friday’s victory after getting swept in three games by Washington to open the week. Miguel Rojas is 9-for-19 with four doubles over the last five games for the Marlins and J.T. Riddle homered Friday, giving him four of his six blasts for the season in the past eight contests.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Zach Eflin (7-7, 3.26 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Jordan Yamamoto (3-0, 0.95)
Eflin posted the victory Monday despite allowing six runs on 11 hits over five innings after suffering losses in his previous two outings while giving up a total of five runs (four earned) across 14 frames. The 25-year-old Floridian yielded three homers in the 13-7 win against the New York Mets after serving up the same amount in the previous five outings combined. Curtis Granderson is 4-for-12 with two homers versus Eflin, who is 1-1 with a 4.85 ERA in two starts against Miami this year.
Yamamoto has been outstanding in his first three major-league starts, permitting a total of two runs - both in his last outing - over 19 innings combined. The 23-year-old Hawaiian, who was acquired in the Christian Yelich trade before last season, beat the Phillies with five innings of two-run and two-hit ball with seven strikeouts last Sunday. Jean Segura knocked in both runs last week against Yamamoto, who was 3-5 with a 3.58 ERA at Double-A Jacksonville before being recalled.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cooper is 7-for-12 while Anderson is 16-for-46 with four homers and eight RBIs against the Phillies this year.
2. Philadelphia RHP Tommy Hunter (elbow) was activated Friday and pitched a perfect eighth inning in his 2019 debut.
3. Marlins C Jorge Alfaro was activated from the 10-day disabled list Friday and was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.