After suffering their third loss in as many nights, the Phillies are turning to two veterans to try and boost the offense.
Ryan Howard and Carlos Ruiz, batting fourth and fifth, respectively, return to the lineup Saturday night for the second game of the series against the Marlins (see game notes). Howard has come off the bench to pinch hit in each of the last two games with the Phillies facing lefty starters, while Ruiz sat in favor of Cameron Rupp in both losses.
Ruiz has had a mini-renaissance to start the season. After posting career-worst offensive numbers in 2015, the veteran catcher has regained his hitting stroke. He has a .311 batting average in a limited sample size (45 at-bats over 12 games) and already has more home runs (three) than he did last season (two). His start Wednesday was his first without a hit since April 15.
Howard, meanwhile, has just two hits in his last five starts. But true to his reputation as a slugging first baseman, both hits were home runs. That included the only run in a 1-0 win over the Cardinals in his hometown of St. Louis.
Howard has some success against the Marlins starter Tom Koehler. "The Big Piece" is 5 for 16 against Koehler with four walks. Ruiz has found less fortune against Miami's starter, picking up three hits and a walk in 17 plate appearances.
Third baseman Martin Prado is absent from the Marlins' starting lineup. Prado, who has hurt the Phillies with a .305 average, 11 homers and 66 RBIs over the course of his career, will sit while Chris Johnson picks up the start at the hot corner.
Here are both teams' lineups for Saturday's matchup at Marlins Park:
MLB
Phillies
1. Odubel Herrera, CF
2. Cesar Hernandez, 2B
3. Maikel Franco, 3B
4. Ryan Howard, 1B
5. Carlos Ruiz, C
6. Freddy Galvis, SS
7. David Lough, LF
8. Jeremy Hellickson, P
9. Peter Bourjos, RF
Marlins
1. Derek Dietrich, 2B
2. Adeiny Hechavarria, SS
3. Christian Yelich, LF
4. Giancarlo Stanton, RF
5. Justin Bour, 1B
6. Marcell Ozuna, CF
7. Chris Johnson, 3B
8. Jeff Mathis, C
9. Tom Koehler, P