Cole Hamels Takes On Marlins As He Looks To Get Back on Track

The Phillies won last night's series opener in late innings thanks to a Chase Utley triple. Clutch. It looks like the Phillies may have found their groove with the way the Phillies have been playing lately. Although it's three games, it's way better than the way they began the season. John Lannan has been great in the five-hole, Cliff Lee has been spectacular, and with the bats hitting the way they are it's looking good for the Phils. All the Phillies need now is for Roy Halladay (0-2, 14.73 ERA) and Cole Hamels (0-2, 10.97 ERA) to snap out of their funks and start pitching good. Tonight is a new chance for Hamels, who will be making his third start of the season. On the mound for the Marlins will be Jose Fernandez (0-0, 1.80 ERA) who is making his second start of the year.

Hamels has been so un-Cole Hamels these past two weeks. If getting shelled in Atlanta to start off the season was bad enough, getting shelled at home against Kansas City last Sunday doesn't quite help. Last Sunday Hamels threw 5 2/3 innings, allowing 8 earned runs on nine hits. Hamels walked four and struck out two to take his second-straight loss of the year. Hamels has allowed 13 ER in 10 2/3 IP over two starts. Hopefully his third start against the Marlins, a team he has not fared well against over his career, will set him straight. In his career, Hamels is 8-10 with a 3.36 ERA (59 ER in 158 IP) against Miami.

Jose Fernandez will be making his second start of the year tonight, coming off of a tough-luck no-decision MLB debut. On Sunday, Fernandez allowed an earned run on three hits through five innings of work. The 20-year-old right hander struck out eight and was in line for the W, but when the Mets rallied in the ninth it was a no-decision handed to Fernandez. This is Fernandez's second career start and he has never faced the Phillies.

Game Notes:

• Cole Hamels NEEDS to get back on track.
• Fernandez is young and has a low-key offense behind him.
• GET ABOVE .500! At 5-5 on the year, it's key to get above the hump and play onwards.
• Freddy Galvis will be making his first start of the season, giving Michael Young a day off at third.

Phillies lineup:

1. Ben Revere CF
2. Jimmy Rollins SS
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Ryan Howard 1B
5. Domonic Brown LF
6. Laynce Nix RF
7. Freddy Galvis 3B
8. Erik Kratz C
9. Cole Hamels P.

Marlins lineup:

1. Juan Pierre LF
2. Donovan Solano 2B
3. Placido Polanco 3B
4. Austin Kearns RF
5. Greg Dobbs 1B
6. Justin Ruggiano CF
7. Rob Brantly C
8. Adeiny Hechavarria SS
9. Jose Fernandez P.

First Pitch Forecast: Isolated T-Storms - 82° – 30% PoP.

TV: CSN
Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT

Let's Go Phillies!

Erik Seybold is a writer for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter.