By: Matt Rappa, managing editor 
MIAMI — Having lost two consecutive games, the Philadelphia Phillies (16-13) will look to rebound in the series opener against the Miami Marlins (15-12) as they send right-hander Vince Velasquez to the mound for his sixth start of the season Friday evening at Marlins Park.
First baseman Ryan Howard will sit for the second consecutive game as Velasquez and the Phillies will oppose southpaw Wei-Yin Chen, who is in his first season with the Marlins after four with the Baltimore Orioles.
The Marlins — who have won 10 of their last 11 games — are tied with the Phillies in the National League East standings at 3.5 games behind the division-leading Washington Nationals (19-9).
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (16-13) | Miami Marlins (15-12) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Vince Velasquez | LHP | Wei-Yin Chen | ||
| (4-1, 1.44 ERA) | (2-1, 4.26 ERA) | ||||
Vince Velasquez — Age: 23;
- Last Start: May 1, 2016, vs CLE: W, 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 6 SO
- Career vs. MIA: N/A
In 31 1/3 innings this season, Velasquez has surrendered just five earned runs on 18 hits and 10 walks. His 0.894 WHIP ratio ranks fourth-best in the National League, trailing LHP Clayton Kershaw (0.717) of the Los Angeles Dodgers, RHP Jake Arrieta (0.744) of the Chicago Cubs and teammate RHP Aaron Nola (0.800).
Velasquez has recorded a quality start in all but one of his five appearances this season.
Wei-Yin Chen — Age: 30;
- Last Start: April 30, 2016, at MIL: W, 6.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO
- Career vs. PHI: (1-0), 1 G, 8.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 9 SO, 0.00 ERA
Chen's only career start against the Phillies came in the Orioles' 4-0 shutout victory on June 15 of last season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Phillies mustered just four hits against the southpaw over eight innings: a single and double by second baseman Cesar Hernandez, along with singles by designated hitter Chase Utley and left fielder Cody Asche.
The five-year veteran signed a five-year, $80 million contract — which includes a $16 million vesting option for 2021 — with the Marlins on Jan 19.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (16-13) | Miami Marlins (15-12) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 1 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R |
| 2 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 2 | 3B | Martin Prado | R |
| 3 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 3 | LF | Christian Yelich | L |
| 4 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R | 4 | RF | Giancarlo Stanton | R |
| 5 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 5 | 2B | Derek Dietrich | L |
| 6 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 6 | CF | Marcell Ozuna | R |
| 7 | LF | Tyler Goeddel | R | 7 | 1B | Chris Johnson | R |
| 8 | P | Vince Velasquez | R | 8 | SS | Miguel Rojas | R |
| 9 | RF | Peter Bourjos | R | 9 | P | Wei-Yin Chen | L |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
- TV: TCN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies and Marlins have split their past 10 meetings at Marlins Park dating back to May 1 of last season.
- Marlins outfielder Ichiro Suzuki — who is batting .333/.400/.389 this season over 40 plate appearances — needs just 53 more hits to become the 30th member of the 3,000-hit club in Major League Baseball history. Suzuki is not in the starting lineup for the series opener.
- In 22 combined career plate appearances against Chen, Phillies batters are hitting .143/.182/.190 with three hits, a walk and seven strikeouts. Velasquez has yet to face a current Marlins batter thus far through 24 career appearances.
What's Next:
- Saturday, May 7, 2016: at Miami Marlins, 7:10 p.m.
- Marlins Park
- RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-2, 4.88 ERA) vs. RHP Tom Koehler (2-3, 7.25 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
