What you need to know about the Miami Marlins-Philadelphia Phillies wild card matchup
The Miami Marlins and the Philadelphia Phillies begin their best-of-3 National League wild card series on Tuesday at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park. Here’s what you need to know.
What are the game times and TV information?
As of Monday, the game times and television broadcasts for the series are broken down as follows:
▪ Tuesday: 8:08 p.m., ESPN
▪ Wednesday: 8:08 p.m., ESPN
▪ Thursday (if necessary): 8:08 p.m., ESPN
It’s worth noting, however, that the time for Game 3 can be fluid depending on how the other three playoff series unfold.
How did the regular-season series unfold?
The Marlins went 7-6 against the Phillies this season, going 4-2 at Citizens Bank Park and 3-4 at loanDepot park. Eight of the 13 games were decided by two runs or fewer and all but the first game of the season series — a 13-5 Marlins loss — were decided by no more than four runs.
How did both teams get here?
The Marlins in Year 1 under first-time manager Skip Schumaker went 84-77 to claim the National League’s second wild card spot. After falling below .500 on Aug. 30, the Marlins went 18-10 over their final 28 games to get back into the playoff picture and clinch a postseason spot for the first time in a full season since 2003. Miami logged 41 come-from-behind wins, went 33-13 in one-run games and was 7-3 in extra inning contests.
The Phillies, who lost in the World Series in 2022, went 90-72 to finish second in the NL East and secure the league’s top wild card spot. After falling to a season-low six games under .500 in early June, Philadelphia went on a stretch in which it won 13 of 15 games to right the ship. The Phillies only had one losing streak longer than three games the rest of the way.
Who are the starting pitchers?
The Marlins will go with left-handed pitcher Jesus Luzardo for Game 1 of the series and left-handed pitcher Braxton Garrett for Game 2, while the Phillies are throwing Zack Wheeler in Game 1 and Aaron Nola in Game 2.
Neither team has announced a starter yet for the if-necessary Game 3 on Thursday.
In two starts against the Phillies this season, Luzardo allowed five runs over 12 1/3 innings (a 3.65 ERA) on 12 hits (including two home runs) and two walks while striking out 14. Over his final seven starts of the regular season, Luzardo pitched to a 2.61 ERA (12 earned runs in 41 1/3 innings) with 48 strikeouts against 14 walks. Half of his 12 runs allowed in this stretch came in one start.
Garrett has also faced the Phillies twice this season, giving up three runs over five innings in each of the starts.
Who are key Marlins players to watch?
▪ Luis Arraez: The All-Star second baseman won his second consecutive batting title by finishing the season with a .354 batting average but has played sparingly over the past two weeks due to a twice-injured left ankle. Arraez is hopeful to be back in the starting lineup for the playoff series after taking ground balls pregame during Miami’s series against the Pirates last weekend.
▪ Tanner Scott: Since moving into the closer role in late August, Scott has allowed just three earned runs over 19 innings, striking out 21 of the 70 batters he has faced and converting 10 of 12 save opportunities.
▪ Jon Berti: Since Sept. 17, the do-it-all utility player has hit .500 over his past 12 games (10 starts), going 18 for 36 with two doubles, one triple, four home runs, six RBI and eight runs scored. Berti also has nine walks against just three strikeouts in that span.
Who are key Phillies players to watch?
▪ Bryce Harper: Harper missed the first month of the season as he recovered from Tommy John surgery and has played first base when he is not the designated hitter. Harper hit .293 this season with 21 home runs and 72 RBI.
▪ Trea Turner: The star shortstop struggled for most of his first season in Philadelphia after signing an 11-year, $300 million deal, but since Aug. 4, when Phillies fans began giving him a round of applause prior to each of his at-bats to show a vote of confidence, Turner hit .337 with 16 home runs, 42 RBI and 42 runs scored over the final 48 games of the season.
▪ Kyle Schwarber: The Phillies’ leadoff hitter only has a .197 batting average, but he has slugged 47 home runs, drawn 126 walks, logged 104 RBI and scored 108 runs. He’s the first player in MLB history to have a batting average below .200 with at least 45 home runs, 125 walks, 100 RBI and 100 runs scored in a season.
This story was originally published October 2, 2023 at 9:33 AM.
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