By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
As the Philadelphia Phillies (62-48) bring back members of the 2008 World Series championship team for the last day of Phillies Alumni Weekend, the club and All-Star RHP Aaron Nola will take on RHP Dan Straily and the Miami Marlins (46-66) in the four-game set finale Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. The first-place Phillies — having won four straight games — will play for their first sweep of the Marlins since Sept. 12-14, 2017.
It was only fitting that on the night the Phillies honored the late Roy Halladay — and Hall of Fame executive Pat Gillick — with an induction onto their Wall of Fame, the Phillies and Marlins played the fastest game against each other (2:20) since the right-hander's iconic perfect game on May 29, 2010 (2:13). The Phillies defeated the Marlins, 8-3, on Saturday, securing their 18th series win of the season. Starter Zach Eflin needed only 85 pitches to toss eight strong innings, while four different Phillies homered — Nick Williams (three-run), Asdrubal Cabrera (two-run), Carlos Santana (solo) and Cesar Hernandez (two-run). Cabrera's home run was his first in red pinstripes, and also raised his season RBI total to 60, a feat the 12-year veteran matched just twice prior since 2014.
The Phillies are 11-3-2 over their last 16 series since June 12; the club won just five more series all of last season under manager Pete Mackanin. A win on Sunday would secure the Phillies their eighth series sweep, and their 12th victory out of their last 14 games played at Citizens Bank Park.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Miami Marlins (46-66) | Philadelphia Phillies (62-48) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Dan Straily | RHP | Aaron Nola | ||
| (4-5, 4.41 ERA) | (12-3, 2.35 ERA) | ||||
RHP Dan Straily, Age: 29
- 2018 vs. PHI: 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 4 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, SO, 2.500 WHIP
- Career vs. PHI: 4-2, 5.73 ERA, 7 G, 7 GS, 37 2/3 IP, 54 H, 25 R, 24 ER, 8 HR, 16 BB, 43 SO, 1.858 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 2-1, 5.82 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 17 IP, 21 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 4 HR, 6 BB, 21 SO, 1.588 WHIP
This season, Straily has recorded just 30 strikeouts in 45 innings on the road, as opposed to 43 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings at home. One season removed from leading the National League in starts (33 in 2017), Straily has posted a 7.71 ERA and .390/.444/.780 opposing slash over his last two starts against fellow National League East foes, the Washington Nationals (July 26) and Atlanta Braves (July 31).
RHP Aaron Nola, Age: 25
- 2018 vs. MIA: 1-1, 1.35 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 13 1/3 IP, 8 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 12 SO, 0.750 WHIP
- Career vs. MIA: 3-4, 3.79 ERA, 9 G, 9 GS, 54 2/3 IP, 47 H, 23 R, 23 ER, 6 HR, 12 BB, 57 SO, 1.079 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 22-12, 3.11 ERA, 39 G, 39 GS, 248 2/3 IP, 210 H, 92 R, 86 ER, 30 HR, 62 BB, 285 SO, 1.094 WHIP
Nola will make his 40th career start at Citizens Bank Park, a venue this season in which he is 8-0 with a 1.99 ERA and 77 strikeouts spanning 10 starts and 68 innings. In his most recent start — away against the Major League Baseball-best Boston Red Sox — Nola yielded just one run on four hits, one walk and six strikeouts spanning eight innings and 105 pitches (73 strikes).
Starting Lineups:
| Miami Marlins (46-66) | Philadelphia Phillies (62-48) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | LF | Derek Dietrich | L | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | RF | Brian Anderson | R | 2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 3 | 2B | Starlin Castro | R | 3 | RF | Nick Williams | L |
| 4 | 1B | Justin Bour | L | 4 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S |
| 5 | 3B | Martin Prado | R | 5 | SS | Asdrubal Cabrera | S |
| 6 | SS | Miguel Rojas | R | 6 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 7 | CF | Magneuris Sierra | L | 7 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 8 | C | Bryan Holaday | R | 8 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R |
| 9 | P | Dan Straily | R | 9 | P | Aaron Nola | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 1:35 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- With the Braves falling 3-0 to the New York Mets on Saturday, the Phillies regained a 1 1/2-game lead in the division. The Phillies continue to sit third in the National League overall standings behind the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers.
- The Phillies are 7-5 against the Marlins this season, outscoring manager Don Mattingly's squad, 64-35. The Phillies have won five of their six home games opposite the Marlins, while dropping four of six road games.
- This month, Santana has risen his batting average seven points, slashing .455/.500/.727 with four singles, one home run, one RBI, one walk and two strikeouts spanning 12 plate appearances.
- The Phillies collectively are hitting .276 in August with 18 singles, three doubles, six home runs, 17 RBI, 10 walks and 25 strikeouts spanning 109 plate appearances. On the mound, Phillies pitching has combined for a 2.00 ERA this month, with 8.67 K/9 and 0.67 BB/9 ratios (click to expand).
What's Next:
Monday, August 6, 2018: at Arizona Diamondbacks, 9:40 p.m.
- Chase Field, Phoenix, Ariz.
- RHP Jake Arrieta (9-6, 3.32 ERA) vs. RHP Zack Godley (12-6, 4.46 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
