By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (10-9) will go for their sixth consecutive win in a Thursday homestand and series finale matinee against RHP Edinson Volquez and the Miami Marlins (10-9) at Citizens Bank Park. Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson will make his fifth start as the Phillies conclude a stretch of 17 straight games against National League East opponents.
Wednesday's 7-4 series opener victory secured the Phillies their fifth straight victory against a division opponent for the first time winning seven straight from July 5 to August 1, 2015. Additionally, a win on Thursday would secure the Phillies their second sweep of the season, as well as three straight series wins for the first time since June 27 to July 6, 2016.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Miami Marlins (10-9) | Philadelphia Phillies (10-9) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Edinson Volquez | RHP | Jeremy Hellickson | ||
| (0-2, 4.82 ERA) | (3-0, 1.88 ERA) | ||||
Volquez Career vs. PHI: 4-1, 2.17 ERA, 6 G, 6 GS, 37 1/3 IP, 28 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 2 HR, 15 BB, 36 SO, 1.152 WHIP
Volquez, 33, is 2-0 lifetime at Citizens Bank Park with a 1.89 ERA and 1.053 WHIP ratio through three starts and 19 innings. His last appearance at the venue — and against the Phillies overall — came back on Sept. 9, 2014, in a six-inning no-decision while with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Through four starts this season, the 13-year veteran has surrendered 11 runs (10 earned) on 10 walks, 21 hits and as many strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings. The Marlins have fallen in each of Volquez's three road starts.
The Marlins signed Volquez to a two-year, $22 million contract on Dec. 1, 2016. He will make $9 million in 2017 and $13 million next season. His 25-year-old younger brother, Brandy Volquez, was stabbed to death in the Dominican Republic in mid-January. This came as another hardship for the former Kansas City Royals starter, who also lost his father just hours before his Game 1 start of the 2015 World Series.
Hellickson Career vs. MIA: 3-2, 2.71 ERA, 10 G, 10 GS, 63 IP, 52 H, 20 R, 19 ER, 6 HR, 12 BB, 39 SO, 1.016 WHIP
Hellickson, 30, is tied with New York Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard (26 IP) for allowing the fourth-fewest earned runs this season among National League starters, 5. They trail Milwaukee Brewers RHP Chase Anderson (3, 24 IP), St. Louis Cardinals RHP Mike Leake (4, 27 1/3 IP) and Washington Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez (4, 26 2/3 IP).
Over his last two starts (14 IP), the 8-year veteran has surrendered fours runs on seven hits, one walks and seven strikeouts. The right-hander is 5-0 in last seven starts at Citizens Bank Park, which dates back to July 20 of last season.
Hellickson's 0.708 WHIP ratio leads the National League.
Starting Lineups:
| Miami Marlins (10-9) | Philadelphia Phillies (10-9) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Dee Gordon | L | 1 | LF | Daniel Nava | S |
| 2 | 3B | Martin Prado | R | 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 3 | CF | Christian Yelich | L | 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 4 | RF | Giancarlo Stanton | R | 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 5 | LF | Marcell Ozuna | R | 5 | RF | Michael Saunders | L |
| 6 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R | 6 | 2B | Andres Blanco | S |
| 7 | 1B | Justin Bour | L | 7 | 1B | Brock Stassi | L |
| 8 | SS | Adeiny Hechavarria | R | 8 | C | Andrew Knapp | S |
| 9 | P | Edinson Volquez | R | 9 | P | Jeremy Hellickson | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes
- The Phillies outfield is hitting a National League second-best average of .294 this season through a combined 87 games and 284 plate appearances. They trail just the Nationals (.298, 81 G, 296 PA). The outfield's 2.1 overall WAR also ties with the Nationals for the league lead in the category.
- In the series opener, Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco became the first player in franchise history with two grand slams in the month of April, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Franco is tied for sixth for the MLB lead in RBIs, 20.
- After Thursday's matinee, the Phillies will embark on a seven-game road trip against the Los Angeles Dodgers and reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs, before returning home on May 5 to open a five-game homestand. The Phillies will then face the Nationals for three games, followed by a brief two-game reunion with former catcher Carlos Ruiz and the Seattle Mariners. Ruiz, 38, has two hits, two runs scored and one RBI through 15 at-bats this season as the backup to Mike Zunino.
- Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis is 4-7 lifetime against Volquez with two doubles, a home run, two RBIs and a walk.
NL East Standings (entering April 27, 2017)
| W | L | GB | L10 | Streak | Home | Road | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Nationals | 15 | 6 | — | 9-1 | W2 | 6-3 | 9-3 |
| Miami Marlins | 10 | 9 | 4.0 | 6-4 | L1 | 4-2 | 6-7 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 10 | 9 | 4.0 | 7-3 | W5 | 6-4 | 4-5 |
| New York Mets | 8 | 12 | 6.5 | 1-9 | L5 | 4-9 | 4-3 |
| Atlanta Braves | 7 | 12 | 7.0 | 4-6 | W1 | 4-3 | 3-9 |
What's Next:
- Friday, April 28, 2017: at Los Angeles Dodgers, 10:10 p.m.
- Dodger Stadium
- RHP Jerad Eickhoff (0-1, 2.55 ERA) vs. RHP Kenta Maeda (1-2, 8.05 ERA)
- TV: TCN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
