Miami, FL – Tonight in the third meeting of the four-game set with the Miami Marlins (50-72), the Philadelphia Phillies (48-74) will seek to win their 20th game since the Mid-Summer Classic, and the 21st road game overall for the 2015 season.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (48-74) | Miami Marlins (50-72) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Aaron Harang | LHP | Justin Nicolino | ||
| (5-14, 4.79 ERA) | (2-1, 4.24 ERA) | ||||
Harang, 37, has the most losing decisions throughout all of major league baseball (14).
The 14-year veteran right hander has allowed 27 earned runs over his last five starts, totaling 25 innings, on 49 hits and nine walks.
Over three career starts at Marlins Park, Harang is 0-2 with a 10.20 ERA and a 2.067 WHIP ratio.
Nicolino, 23, was drafted 80th overall in the 2010 amateur draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.
On November 19, 2012, the left hander born in Orlando, Florida was dealt to his native state in the 11-player trade that sent shortstop Jose Reyes, starting pitcher Josh Johnson, utility infielder Emilio Bonifacio and others to Toronto.
Nicolino's contract was purchased from Triple-A New Orleans on June 20 as he filled-in for the injured Tom Koehler (back, neck). He threw seven shutout innings in his major league debut at Great American Ball Park, allowing just four hits and two walks.
After allowing five runs on six hits and a walk in four innings against the Dodgers, Nicolino was optioned back to Triple-A. He was recalled on August 11, this time in replacement of right hander Jose Fernandez (bicep).
Over two starts in the month of August, 12 1/3 innings, the southpaw is 1-0 with a 4.38 ERA and a 1.459 WHIP ratio.
Tonight will be Nicolino's first career appearance against a National League East opponent, and the fifth start overall for his career.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (48-74) | Miami Marlins (50-72) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | 2B | Dee Gordon | L |
| 2 | 3B | Andres Blanco | S | 2 | RF | Ichiro Suzuki | L |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | 3B | Martin Prado | R |
| 4 | RF | Jeff Francoeur | R | 4 | 1B | Justin Bour | L |
| 5 | LF | Aaron Altherr | R | 5 | LF | Derek Dietrich | L |
| 6 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R | 6 | CF | Marcell Ozuna | R |
| 7 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 7 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R |
| 8 | C | Carlos Ruiz | R | 8 | SS | Adeiny Hechavarria | R |
| 9 | P | Aaron Harang | R | 9 | P | Justin Nicolino | L |
Game Notes:
- Over 34 career games against the Phillies, Marlins center fielder Marcell Ozuna is batting .345/.389/.554 with 14 doubles, five home runs and 19 runs-batted-in. Ozuna has three hits this series, two of which were for extra-bases (double, home run).
- Right fielder Ichiro Suzuki currently has a 19-game hitting streak in opposition of the Phillies, which dates back to June 4, 2003 at Veterans Stadium. Ozuna has a 17-game hitting steak against the Phillies as well. Suzuki is just 77 hits away from reaching 3,000 in his MLB career.
- Picking up three doubles and two runs-batted-in last night, Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard surpassed Del Ennis for solo possession of second place in franchise history for RBIs (1,125). Dating back to Cole Hamels' no-hitter on July 25, Howard is batting .310/.363/.524 with nine doubles, three home runs, seven walks and 19 runs-batted-in.
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 7:10 pm EST
- TV: CSN
- Radio: 98.1 WOGL, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
What's Next:
- Sunday, August 23, 2015: at Miami Marlins, 1:10 pm
- RHP Aaron Nola (3-1, 4.41 ERA) vs. LHP Adam Conley (1-0, 5.82 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappasports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
