Marlins at Phillies
Both Miami and Philadelphia blew late leads Sunday, with the Marlins allowing two ninth-inning runs in a 6-5 loss at Cincinnati and the Phillies coughing up a three-run cushion to fall at Pittsburgh, 5-4. The clubs came into the season as the favorites in a loaded National League East after signing a number of high-profile free agents.
The Marlins made a big splash, signing SS Jose Reyes and LHP Mark Buehrle while also bringing in former Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. Philadelphia added closer Jonathan Papelbon to a dominating pitching staff that led the way to a 102-win campaign last year. The Phillies will be leaning heavily on those arms early in the season with All-Star infielders Ryan Howard and Chase Utley both on the disabled list.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network (national), Fox Sports Florida (Miami), Comcast Sports (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Anibal Sanchez (2011: 8-9, 3.67 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cole Hamels (2011: 14-9, 2.79 ERA)
Sanchez turned in a second consecutive solid season for the Marlins, striking out 202 batters and throwing a pair of shutouts. He has struggled against the Phillies, however, going 3-8 with a 5.09 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP in 16 career starts. The going has been particularly rough at Citizens Bank Park, where he is 1-6 with a 6.58 ERA.
Hamels continued his ascent into the ranks of the elite last season, putting together a Cy Young-caliber campaign that included a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 194 to 44. He has had mixed results against the Marlins, posting a solid 3.44 ERA despite a lackluster 6-7 record. Hamels tossed 29 innings in four starts against Miami last year, allowing eight runs and striking out 25.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Philadelphia won 12 of 18 games against the Marlins last season, taking seven of 10 at home.
2. The Phillies are 72-for-246 (.293) against Sanchez, but much of the heavy damage has been done by Howard (9-for-31, 2 HR) and Utley (15-for-34).
3. Miami RF Giancarlo Stanton has struck out nine times without a walk in 19 at-bats against Hamels, but three of his five hits have been for extra bases, including a home run.