By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
MIAMI — Behind RHP Aaron Nola, the Philadelphia Phillies (51-83) will look to secure their 12th series win Saturday evening in the third of a four-game set against RHP Dan Straily and the National League Wild Card-hopeful Miami Marlins (66-68) at Marlins Park.
The Marlins, who sit six games behind the Colorado Rockies for the second Wild Card spot, fell by one-run deficits to the Phillies in each of the first two games of the series, 3-2 on Thursday and 2-1 last evening.
On Friday, trailing 1-0 with just four hits heading to the ninth, Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco led off the frame with a double to deep left. Three batters later, rookie catcher Jorge Alfaro singled home Franco for the tying run, followed by a game-winning groundout RBI by first baseman Andres Blanco. Phillies RHP Juan Nicasio earned the victory in his club debut, needing just three pitches to retire National League Most Valuable Player candidate Giancarlo Stanton for the final out in the eighth. Phillies 1B/OF Rhys Hoskins' 13-game hit streak was snapped in the victory as he went 0-3 with a walk and three strikeouts.
The Phillies have won four straight games at Marlins Park dating back to July 18. They fell in each of their previous five games at the venue prior. Both clubs have split their 14 overall meetings this season.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (51-83) | Miami Marlins (66-68) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Aaron Nola | RHP | Dan Straily | ||
| (10-9, 3.46 ERA) | (8-8, 3.80 ERA) | ||||
Nola Career vs. MIA: 1-2, 4.30 ERA, 5 G, 5 GS, 29 1/3 IP, 25 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 3 HR, 7 BB, 27 SO, 1.091 WHIP
Nola, 24, struggled in his most recent appearance against the Marlins in the first-half of August 22's doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park. He allowed a season-high seven runs on nine hits, two walks, two home runs surrendered and seven strikeouts through 6 1/3 innings. Nola rebounded in his most recent start on August 28, however, tossing seven innings with just one run allowed, home against the Atlanta Braves.
Season Splits, By Month:
- April: 3 GS, 2-0, 4.50 ERA, 16 IP, 15 SO, 6 BB, .317/.377/.413
- May: 3 GS, 0-3, 5.63 ERA, 16 IP, 14 SO, 5 BB, .242/.309/.387
- June: 5 GS, 3-2, 3.24 ERA, 33 1/3 IP, 35 SO, 11 BB, .220/.284/.350
- July: 5 GS, 3-1, 1.32 ERA, 34 IP, 43 SO, 8 BB, .192/.241/.304
- August: 6 GS, 2-3, 4.23 ERA, 38 1/3 IP, 34 SO, 10 BB, .253/.306/.404
Straily Career vs. PHI: 3-1, 3.18 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 22 2/3 IP, 26 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 2 HR, 9 BB, 33 SO, 1.544 WHIP
Straily, 28, has 27 strikeouts spanning three starts and 17 2/3 innings this season against the Phillies. The six-year veteran has allowed three runs or less in each of his last six appearances, half of them being quality starts. Straily is 5-5 with a 4.62 ERA on the road this season with 69 strikeouts in 74 innings.
Season Splits, By Month:
- April: 5 GS, 1-2, 4.15 ERA, 26 IP, 29 SO, 12 BB, .183/.283/.344
- May: 6 GS, 3-1, 3.12 ERA, 34 2/3 IP, 35 SO, 13 BB, .203/.287/.375
- June: 5 GS, 1-1, 3.18 ERA, 28 1/3 IP, 26 SO, 3 BB, .255/.282/.443
- July: 6 GS, 2-3, 4.72 ERA, 34 1/3 IP, 21 SO, 7 BB, .309/.333/.551
- August: 5 GS, 1-1, 3.81 ERA, 28 1/3 IP, 27 SO, 9 BB, .222/.287/.404
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (51-83) | Miami Marlins (66-68) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | 2B | Dee Gordon | L |
| 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 2 | RF | Giancarlo Stanton | R |
| 3 | RF | Nick Williams | L | 3 | CF | Christian Yelich | L |
| 4 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 4 | LF | Marcell Ozuna | R |
| 5 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R | 5 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R |
| 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 6 | 3B | Brian Anderson | R |
| 7 | CF | Pedro Florimon | S | 7 | 1B | Tomas Telis | S |
| 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 8 | SS | Miguel Rojas | R |
| 9 | P | Aaron Nola | R | 9 | P | Dan Straily | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Hoskins and catcher Cameron Rupp are the only active members of the Phillies to have previously homered off Straily. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez and shortstop Freddy Galvis are each 2-11 lifetime against the right-hander. Marlins outfielders Marcell Ozuna, Ichiro Suzuki and Stanton have previously gone yard opposite Nola.
- Injury Report:
- Phillies
- OF Odubel Herrera (strained left hamstring), possible September return
- OF Aaron Altherr (strained right hamstring), possible September return
- C Andrew Knapp (bruised right hand), possible early September return
- RHP Jerad Eickhoff (right hand nerve irritation), status uncertain
- RHP Zach Eflin (strained right shoulder), status uncertain
- RHP Vince Velasquez (right middle finger numbness), possible 2018 return
- RHP Clay Buchholz (forearm surgery), possible September return
- Marlins
- 1B Justin Bour (right oblique strain), possible mid-September return
- SS J.T. Riddle (left shoulder slap tear), possible 2018 return
- 3B Martin Prado (arthroscopic right knee surgery), possible late 2017 return
- LHP Chris O'Grady (right oblique strain), status uncertain
- RHP Nick Wittgren (right elbow strain), out indefinitely
- RHP Wei-Yin Chen (partially torn ulnar collateral ligament), possible mid-September return
- RHP Edinson Volquez (Tommy John surgery), possible late 2018 return
- Phillies
- Active Hit Streaks: PHI CF Odubel Herrera (17), MIA 2B Dee Gordon (6), PHI INF/OF Pedro Florimon (6)
What's Next:
- Sunday, Sept. 3, 2017: at Miami Marlins, 1:10 p.m.
- Marlins Park
- RHP Jake Thompson (1-1, 5.40 ERA) vs. RHP Jose Urena (12-6, 3.84 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
