The Miami Marlins are currently the worst team in the National League East, and they will be meeting the team on the opposite end of the spectrum, beginning this Thursday. That would be the Philadelphia Phillies, who are looking to expand their lead atop the division, especially with the Atlanta Braves still looming large on their rear view mirrors.
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Game by Game Betting Preview for the Philadelphia Phillies vs Miami Marlins Regular Season Series Running from August 2-5 2018
Where: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia
When:
Game 1 Thursday, August 2, 7:05PM EST
Game 2 Friday, August 3, 7:05PM EST
Game 3 Saturday, August 4, 7:05PM EST
Game 4 Sunday, August 5, 1:35PM EST
Line: Philadelphia Phillies vs Miami Marlins – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Game 1 Thursday, August 2, 7:05PM EST
Starters: Trevor Richards (3-5, 4.06 ERA) vs. Nick Pivetta (6-9, 4.85 ERA)
Pitching:
Richards has been in control of his stuff of late, as he has not allowed more than an earned run in each of his last three starts. In his most recent outing, he yielded just three hits to go with eight strikeouts in six innings of a 2-1 win at home over Washington. He is 1-3 with a 5.11 ERA in eight starts this season, however. Pivetta’s been unreliable in his past few starts. He has surrendered 12 earned runs on 19 hits in his last 18 innings on the mound.
Hitting:
- Odubel Herrera is 3-for-5 vs. Richards.
- J.T. Realmuto is 3-for-6 vs. Pivetta.
Writer’s Prediction:
Philly wins, 5-3.
Game 2 Friday, August 3, 7:05PM EST
Starters: Jose Urena (3-10, 4.40 ERA) vs. Vince Velasquez (7-8, 4.02 ERA)
Pitching:
Urena pitched great in his last start, as he is coming off a six-inning shutout performance in a 5-0 win over Washington at home on July 29. The last time he met the Phillies, it didn’t go as well for him, as he surrendered five earned runs on six hits in a 10-5 home win on July 15. Velasquez, meanwhile, allowed two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts in 5.0 innings in a 6-2 road loss to Cincinnati on July 28. Velasquez is 5-5 with a 5.31 ERA with in 12 total appearances at home this season.
Hitting:
- Maikel Franco is 5-for-16 vs. Urena.
- Martin Prado is 4-for-12 vs. Velasquez.
Writer’s Prediction:
Philadelphia wins, 5-3.
Game 3 Saturday, August 4, 7:05PM EST
Starters: Wei-Yin Chen (3-7, 5.65 ERA) vs. Zach Eflin (7-3, 3.64 ERA)
Pitching:
Chen finished July with a 1-3 record and a 5.27 ERA in five starts in that month. It’s not a smooth ERA, but its his best in a month since May. Chen is also just 1-6 with a horrendous 10.27 ERA in nine road starts this season. As for Eflin, the 24-year-old right-hander allowed four earned runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings of a 4-0 loss in Cincinnati on July 29. He is 4-1 with a 3.18 ERA in six home starts this season.
Hitting:
- Maikel Franco is 7-for-18 vs. Chen.
- J.T. Realmuto is 2-for-5 vs. Eflin.
Writer’s Prediction:
Philadelphia wins, 6-3.
Game 4 Sunday, August 5, 1:35PM EST
Starters: Dan Straily (4-4, 4.07 ERA) vs. Aaron Nola (12-3, 2.42 ERA)
Pitching:
Straily has been been decent on the mound over his past several starts. In fact, he has not given up more than three runs in any of his last six starts, in all of which he pitched no shorter than 6.0 innings. Straily is 2-3 with a 3.27 ERA in eight road starts this year. Nola, on the other hand, held himself against the big bats of Boston in his last start, giving up just an earned run on four hits with six strikeouts in eight innings of a 2-1 loss at Fenway Park on July 30. Nola is 8-0 with a 1.99 ERA in 10 home starts this season.
Hitting:
- Odubel Herrera is 5-for-12 with a home run vs. Straily.
- Martin Prado is 6-for-15 vs. Nola.
Writer’s Prediction:
Philly wins, again, 4-2.
Writer’s Overall Series Prediction
The Phillies mount the Marlins and sweep the four game regular season series.
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