The Miami Marlins will be on the road for the first time this season when they take on the Philadelphia Philles on Thursday.
The Marlins went 2-4 during their recent homestand, but showed some promise against World Series contenders. After splitting a four-game series with the Chicago Cubs, the Marlins were competitive in both games against the Boston Red Sox. Even though Miami was swept by Boston, the results could have easily went the other way.
Caleb Smith will start the series opener for Miami, after a solid 2018 debut. Smith struck out eight in 5.1 innings of work against the Cubs. The former New York Yankee allowed only a run on four hits. Now pitching in a hitter's ballpark, Smith will need to pile up the strikeouts again against Philadelphia.
After an off-day on Friday, the series will continue on Saturday evening. Miami will turn to Dillion Peters for the second start of the series. The lefty gave Miami six shutout innings in his first start of the season and picked up the win. The 25-year old only struck out two, with eight outs coming on fly balls. Relying on fly outs can be a risky proposition in Philadelphia's home ballpark.
Trevor Richards was phenomenal during the start of his big-league debut, but faltered later. Richards breezed through Boston's lineup, before surrending five runs on eight hits. Miami has kept Richards in the rotation for now, but those plans could change with another shaky outing. Richards will need to be more efficient in this one, after needing 93 pitches in 4.1 innings last start.
With Garrett Cooper on the disabled list, Miami is expected to continue to use Cameron Maybin in the outfield. Cooper injured his wrist during the series with Chicago and Miami has been playing with a short bench. The Marlins rectified that situation on Thursday morning, when they recalled Braxton Lee from AAA. Lee is expected to come off the bench, but could also see a start or two.
Justin Bour has not hit a home run yet, but that could change during the weekend series. Bour has been putting together better at-bats recently and has two runs batted in this season. Without many other power threats in the lineup, the Marlins will rely on Bour's bat on a daily basis. The slugger hit a career-high 25 home runs in 2017.
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Lewis Brinson is still looking for his first extra-base hit and stolen base as a Marlin, but he has made an impact. Brinson had a four-hit game against the Cubs and also flashed some stellar defense in centerfield. After going 0-6 against Boston on Tuesday, Miami's top prospect is hitting .226 on the season. The 23-year old has struck out seven times so far and has only walked once.
The series will get underway on Thursday at 3:05 p.m.
