The Miami Marlins battle in the National League East Showdown for Wild Card advantage.
The Miami Marlins’ playoff hopes have reached a make-or-break moment, with a three-game National League East showdown against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Both teams are in the mix for the last two Wild Card spots.
The Marlins last faced the Phillies at LoanDepot Park in late July. They swept the series and scored eight runs in two games. However, the last time the Marlins played at Citizens Bank Park was in mid-June, and the Phillies won the series 2-1.
Probable Pitchers
Two-time All-Star and Cy Young candidate Cristopher Sanchez will start on the mound. He’s produced a 2.54 ERA and a 15-4 record in 155.2 innings (25 starts). Sanchez is tied for the most wins among pitchers and has a 6.6 WAR. He relies on three pitches:
- Sinker (43.1 percent)
- Changeup (37.5 percent)
- Slider (19.4 percent)
Sanchez will present a great challenge for the Marlins’ lineup. He has an above-average chase rate (97th percentile), strikeout rate (85th percentile), and groundball rate (98th percentile). Although Sanchez has a 93rd percentile base-on-balls rate, he’s walked just seven batters of 68 faced in his last three starts.
The Marlins will start Janson Junk on the mound. He’s produced a 4.41 ERA and a 6-7 record in 87.2 innings (17 starts). Junk relies on six pitches:
- Four Seamer (36.1 percent)
- Slider (20.6 percent)
- Changeup (18.1 percent)
- Sweeper (13.8 percent)
- Curveball (7.1 percent)
- Sinker (4.3 percent)
Game Notes
The Marlins made an interesting adjustment to the lineup. Esteury Ruiz will start at center field and leadoff. Agustin Ramirez will serve as a designated hitter (batting fourth) and Brian Navarreto will start behind the plate (batting ninth).
Meanwhile, the Marlins face a familiar bat.
Four-time All-Star Luis Arraez was traded to the Phillies from the San Francisco Giants on the Aug. 3 deadline. He will start at second base (batting fourth). Arraez is batting .245 with a .645 OPS, including 13 hits in 53 at-bats, four doubles, eight runs batted in, and a home run in 12 games since the trade.
The two-time Slugger will pose a significant threat to Junk and the Marlins’ defense.
How to Watch and Listen
The game will be televised on Marlins.TV and NBC Sports Philadelphia. For radio options, the Phillies broadcast can be heard on 94 WIP and the iHeart App; meanwhile, the Marlins’ broadcast is on WQAM 104.3 and WAQI 710.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. E.T.
