Marlins (Hendrickson) @ Phillies (Myers)

[kalasfan]

Citizens Bank Park | 7:05 PM ET
FLA Marlins (30-22) Mark Hendrickson, LHP (7-2, 4.14) @
PHI Phillies (31-24) Brett Myers, RHP (2-6, 5.79)

Scouting Report:
Marlins: On Sunday against the Giants, Mark Hendrickson allowed five earned runs, while throwing 97 pitches -- 56 for strikes. He struck out five and walked two, but benefited from four home runs hit by the Marlins to pick up his seventh victory. Hendrickson didn't have his best stuff -- he scattered nine hits -- but did battle out of several jams, including a first-and-third jam with one out in the fifth. Hendrickson struck out Rich Aurilia and Travis Denker to end that threat.

Phillies: In his last outing, Myers lost his fourth straight start as he went six innings and allowed four runs on eight hits in a 4-3 defeat at Houston. Myers threw a season-high four walks and tied his season low with only two strikeouts. Myers has five losses and two no-decisions in his past seven starts and hasn't won since April 17 against the Astros in Philadelphia. For his career, he's 5-7 with a 5.01 ERA in 25 games against Florida.

[kalasfan]

Most of the guys in the Marlins' lineup have hit Myers well in their careers. Three are looking for their first hit off him - Ross, Helms and Nolasco. The rest of them have hit him pretty hard - Jacobs and Uggla - .389, Amezaga and Jones - .500, for example. Hermida and Treanor are 2 for 17 off him, a bright spot for Phils' fans. The Phillies lineup has faced Hendrickson 44 ABs and are hitting .295 off him. Phils are on a run scoring tear of late and the Fish have just dropped 2 0f three to the Mets so they are looking to get back in the winning way. It should prove to be an very entertaining game and this series might settle the first place issue in NL East. Or it might not. We shall see.

[kalasfan]

By Kevin Horan / MLB.com PHILADELPHIA -- Ask Phillies manager Charlie Manuel what he thinks of this year's Marlins and he'll remind you about a prediction he made during Spring Training.

"I said it in Spring Training -- they could be good," Manuel said. "I said before the season [that] Florida can be good."

Manuel should be proud of that prediction. The Marlins could be sitting alone atop the National League East standings when they enter Citizens Bank Park on Friday for a three-game series, the first 2008 meeting between these two NL East teams.

The Phillies also head into the weekend on a high note, coming off a three-game sweep of the Rockies to open a 10-game homestand. Philadelphia's offense has been the key to its recent success, erupting for 33 runs against Colorado.

With an Opening Day payroll of $21.8 million -- the lowest among all Major League clubs -- few would have predicted such a start by the Marlins. But they have been powered by second baseman Dan Uggla's 16 home runs and have stopped opposing offenses with a young pitching staff. Though their ace, Mark Hendrickson, is 34, the other four starters are 25 or younger.

If all goes according to plan for the Phillies, they may unseat the Marlins this weekend. A series sweep would leave Philadelphia with sole possession of first place.

Regardless of what happens, Manuel looks at the months ahead and sees Florida staying in the thick of the division race.

"I think they are a threat," Manuel said. "I think they're very balanced."

[kalasfan]

I was amazed to see the the Phils have the edge on the Marlins in Every Offensive Category except triples and every pitching category but Hits, HR , ShO and BAA. I thought it would be closer than that.

[kalasfan]

Here are tonight's lineups:
Florida AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Ramirez, SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
Hermida, RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266
Cantu, 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268
Jacobs, 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .257
Uggla, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307
Gonzalez, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .285
Treanor, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287
Jones, J, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .151
Hendrickson, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .333

Philadelphia AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG
Rollins, SS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312
Victorino, CF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .291
Utley, 2B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .310
Howard, 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .206
Burrell, LF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .277
Feliz, 3B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .265
Coste, C 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .341
Taguchi, RF 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .196
Myers, P 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .056

[Ziggy/Franzen Troll]

the marlins are probably the only team to have 5 shutouts and no complete games too.

theres also only a 3 HR difference, and the phillies play in a box.

[Ziggy/Franzen Troll]

Hendrickson has the most overrated pitchers record... EVER

[Ziggy/Franzen Troll]

fuck this im watching boston and detroit.

[Ziggy/Franzen Troll]

wins over the marlins dont count, mlb made a new rule, if you lose against them you get 2 losses.

[kalasfan]

Well, a shaky start for Myers as he allows 3 runs in the first inning, but the Phillies bat around plus 1 in the 2nd, getting HR's from Chris Coste and Chase Utley as they score 7 runs to take the lead 7-3 after 2.

[kalasfan]

Myers allows a couple of hits in the third but gets out of it with no damage. Mid 3rd, 7-3 Phils.

[Ziggy/Franzen Troll]

May 30, 2008 19:01:31 GMT -5 @kalasfan said:

Myers allows a couple of hits in the third but gets out of it with no damage. Mid 3rd, 7-3 Phils.

marlins always manage to bail out terrible pitchers.

dont be afraid of basehits, weak pop outs will follow on the very next pitch

[Fish Troll]

win 2 tomorrow

[Ziggy/Franzen Troll]

May 30, 2008 19:11:38 GMT -5 Fish Troll said:

win 2 tomorrow

not if hanley keeps looking at the outside corner.

if we are doing this bad against brett freaking myers Cole Hamels will pitch a 1 hitter.

[kalasfan]

Ramirez gets smoked on the left wrist by a line drive. He manages to recover to flip backhand to get a force at second, but he's in some pain. He will remain in the game.