Phillies, Cole Hamels Look To Fry Fish In Florida Finale

We are nearing the end.  One more game under the roof in Miami and the Phillies will be on to Atlanta to close out the season with four against the Atlanta Braves.  The Marlins will close the season at home when the Phillies leave against the Detroit Tigers.  The Phillies will turn to Cole Hamels and the Marlins go to Brad Hand.  The game may appear meaningless in the standings, but Hamels enters the game with 99 wins and could hit the 100 mark tonight.

Cole Hamels makes his final start of the season.  Coming into tonight, Hamels is 8-14 with a 3.62 ERA.  Dominant in the second half, Hamels' last start was the one rough patch in recent memory, giving up six earned runs to the New York Mets.   Hamels did stick it out and pitched seven full innings, helping the Phillies' taxed bullpen.  After a rough start, exiting the season on a positive note would be a positive step for Hamels.

Brad Hand will start for the Marlins.   Hand is 23 years old and has started just one time for the Miami Marlins this season.  Unlike most Marlins, Hand is an original Marlins draftee, who has been in the majors for at least parts of the year since 2011.  Hand got a win in relief against the Phillies on September 18, but lost his only start this season, going five and two-thirds innings and giving up four earned runs to the New York Mets.  In six games total in 2013, Hand is 1-1 with a 3.14 ERA.

Game Notes:

• Cody Asche sits once again.  Asche struck out in one plate appearance last night, to make him 1 for his last 18.
• Marlins closer Steve Cishek has a 27 consecutive save streak going, longest in the majors.
• The Marlins are skipping left-handed batters Logan Morrison and Chris Coghlan against Cole Hamels.

Phillies Lineup:

1. Cesar Hernandez CF
2. Jimmy Rollins SS
3. Chase Utley 2B
4. Carlos Ruiz C
5. Domonic Brown LF
6. Darin Ruf RF
7. Kevin Frandsen 1B
8. Freddy Galvis 3B
9. Cole Hamels P
   

Marlins Lineup:

1. Donovan Solano 2B
2. Ed Lucas 1B
3. Christian Yelich LF
4. Giancarlo Stanton RF
5. Justin Ruggiano CF
6. Placido Polanco 3B
7. Adeiny Hechavarria SS
8. Koyie Hill C
9. Brad Hand P

First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
TV: CSN
Radio: 94WIP, 1210AM WPHT