Phillies (87-46) at Marlins (60-76), 7:10 p.m. on CSN
Starting Pitchers
Phillies: Roy Oswalt (6-8, 3.77) has been a mixed bag since returning from the DL. In four August starts, he tossed 26 23 innings, allowing 11 runs on 38 hits and striking out 20 batters against five walks. He took a loss in his last start, giving up five earned on 12 hits in 5 23 innings. In the outing before that, however, Oswalt threw eight shutout innings against the Nationals en route to a win.
Marlins: Florida has opted to give the ball to 21-year-old Brad Hand (1-4, 4.08) for the series opener. Hand, who started the year at Double-A Jacksonville, was sent back down to the minors after inconsistency plagued his first eight starts. In 39 23 big-league innings this season, he has walked 25 batters and surrendered eight homers. Hand was recalled to the big club on Thursday to start todays contest.
Previous games
The Phils are coming off a four-game sweep of the Reds, which was capped by a 6-4 win on Thursday. Ryan Howard hammered his 30th home run of the year and Antonio Bastardo protected the Phils lead with a masterful relief effort as the Phils locked up their first sweep in Cincinnati since 1916.
The Marlins, on the other hand, have lost four of their last five contests. Their most recent defeat came on Thursday at the hands of the Mets. Despite a 3-for-4, three-RBI day from Emilio Bonifacio, Florida fell to New York 7-5.
Head-to-head
The Phils are 9-4 against the Marlins this season, outscoring Florida by 33 runs in 13 total gamesIn 16 career starts against the Marlins, Oswalt is 6-5 with a 3.96 ERAWilson Valdez is a .303 hitter against Florida with 13 RBIs, more than he has against any other opponentHand has never faced the Phillies.
Whos hot?
Howard has four homers and eight RBIs in his last five games ... Carlos Ruiz has 16 hits in his last 10 starts, raising his average raising his average nearly 20 points during that spanBonifacio has a four-game hitting streak, and hes totaled 13 hits in his last nine games.
Storylines
The Phils will be seeing Hand for the first time, but judging by his reputation within the Marlins organization, it wont be the last. Hand is regarded as the franchises second-best pitching prospect.
Sound off
With their win on Thursday, the Phils moved to 41 games over .500. Where does this 2011 team stand in your all-time franchise rankings?