By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Playing against their former teams for the first time since being traded this past offseason will be the Philadelphia Phillies' (7-4) J.T. Realmuto and the Miami Marlins' (3-10) Jorge Alfaro in Friday evening's three-game series opener at Marlins Park. The game marks the Phillies' first of a 17-day stretch where they play as many games with no days off.
This season, Realmuto has nine hits, home home run and a .237 average in 38 at-bats, while Alfaro has eight hits, three home runs and a .258 average in 31 at-bats.
A year ago, the #Phillies still thought this guy was their catcher of the future. pic.twitter.com/ypLRVewhyb
— Scott Lauber (@ScottLauber) April 12, 2019
After going 3-3, including dropping two straight, in their most recent six-game homestand against the Minnesota Twins and Washington Nationals, the Phillies will play just three on the road in Miami before returning to play three against the New York Mets, Monday through Wednesday. Arrieta, Zach Eflin and Vince Velasquez will start opposite the Marlins' Alcantara, Caleb Smith and Jose Urena in the series. The Marlins have scored just one run, while allowing 21 runs, over their last three games — all away against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Marlins currently are tied with the Colorado Rockies for the worst winning percentage in the National League (.231). The Don Mattingly-led club has second the fewest runs in the NL (34), while allowing the seventh-most (64).
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (7-4) | Miami Marlins (3-10) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jake Arrieta | RHP | Sandy Alcantara | ||
| (1-1, 2.77 ERA) | (1-0, 1.50 ERA) | ||||
RHP Jake Arrieta, Age: 33
- Career vs. MIA: 5-1, 3.00 ERA, 8 G, 8 GS, 48 IP, 38 H, 17 R, 16 ER, 5 HR, 13 BB, 47 SO, 1.063 WHIP
- Career at Marlins Park: 4-1, 3.38 ERA, 5 G, 5 GS, 32 IP, 30 H, 12 R, 12 ER, 4 HR, 8 BB, 30 SO, 1.188 WHIP
Arrieta gets another crack at his 100th career win, after yielding three runs over seven innings in his most recent outing, home against the Minnesota Twins last Saturday. Arrieta allowed three runs in the third, including two solo home runs, and would settle in nicely. The Phillies trailed just 3-2 heading to the ninth, but Seranthony Dominguez allowed a three-run home run to give the opposition the 6-2 advantage.
RHP Sandy Alcantara, Age: 23
- Career vs. PHI: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 6 SO, 0.714 WHIP
- Career at Marlins Park: 3-1, 1.50 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 24 IP, 16 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 13 BB, 17 SO, 1.208 WHIP
All of Alcantara's three career victories have come at Marlins Park. Over his last five starts, dating back to Sept. 18 last season against the Nationals, the rookie right-hander has allowed 25 hits, 12 runs and 18 walks spanning 27 innings, en route to a 4.00 ERA and 1.593 WHIP. This season, Alcantara struck out six without a walk in eight innings, but he walked five with no strikeouts in his most recent start, Saturday against the Atlanta Braves.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (7-4) | Miami Marlins (3-10) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | LF | Andrew McCutchen | R | 1 | LF | Curtis Granderson | L |
| 2 | SS | Jean Segura | R | 2 | 3B | Brian Anderson | R |
| 3 | RF | Bryce Harper | L | 3 | 1B | Neil Walker | S |
| 4 | 1B | Rhys Hoskins | R | 4 | 2B | Starlin Castro | R |
| 5 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R | 5 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R |
| 6 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 6 | SS | Miguel Rojas | R |
| 7 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 7 | RF | Austin Dean | R |
| 8 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 8 | CF | Rosell Herrera | S |
| 9 | P | Jake Arrieta | R | 9 | P | Sandy Alcantara | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
- TV: NBC 10
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies will play at Marlins Park with the roof open for the first time since 2016.
- Earlier on Friday, the Phillies recalled RHP Victor Arano from Triple-A Lehigh Valley as the corresponding move to Thursday's demotion of RHP Edubray Ramos.Philly.com's Scott Lauber notes, "Arano gives them multi-inning flexibility in bullpen; Ramos is best suited for one-inning stints."
- Ramos had retired just 12 of his 19 batters faced; spanning four innings and as many appearances, the right-hander has allowed four singles, one double, one home run, five runs (four earned), and three walks.
- Arano, meanwhile, allowed 20 runs on 17 hits, four home runs and seven walks in just four innings in spring training, but so far at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he had allowed just one of his 13 batters faced to reach base (walk) with seven strikeouts spanning his three scoreless appearances and four innings.
- Former Phillies utility player Jesmuel Valentin has signed a minor-league deal with the Baltimore Orioles.
- The only Phillie to have yet to collect a hit against Alcantara is right fielder Bryce Harper, who in two at-bats has a double, RBI and three walks (.500/.667/1.000) (click to expand).
- Since Harper's three-run home run against the Nationals on Tuesday, the Nationals outscored the Phillies 24-3 in the next 15 innings. In the Phillies' 15-1 blowout loss on Wednesday, Aaron Altherr became the club's first position player to have multiple strikeouts pitching in a game since Greg Gross on June 8, 1986, Ryan Spaeder notes. The Phillies' one run scored in the ninth prevented their worst shutout loss at home since a 15-0 blowout against the Cubs on Sept. 29, 1944, at Shibe Park.
What's Next:
- Saturday, April 13, 2019: at Miami Marlins, 6:10 p.m.
- Marlins Park, Miami, Fla.
- RHP Zach Eflin (2-0, 0.75 ERA) vs. LHP Caleb Smith (0-0, 4.09 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP+; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
