Phillies @ Marlins

Who will WIN this matchup?

Philadelphia Phillies (7-4)

@ Miami Marlins (3-10)

Starting Pitchers:

Arrieta (PHI): 1-1; 2.77 ERA

Alcantara (MIA) 1-0; 1.50 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Philadelphia Phillies: 6-4

Miami Marlins: 2-8

Current odds:

Philadelphia Phillies: (-155)

Miami Marlins: (+145)

• The Philadelphia Phillies made several offseason acquisitions prior to the signing of superstar Bryce Harper, with All-Star J.T. Realmuto reeled in from the Miami Marlins for fellow catcher Jorge Alfaro, a pair of pitchers and international bonus slot money. Realmuto returns to South Florida for the first time since the trade as the Phillies open a three-game series against the Marlins on Friday. Realmuto had been slow out of the blocks with just four hits in his first seven contests before collecting five in a three-game span prior to Wednesday’s 15-1 drubbing by Washington. Rhys Hoskins cooled down in back-to-back losses against the Nationals after a sterling five-game stretch in which he went 9-for-19 with four homers, 10 RBIs and five runs scored.

• While Philadelphia has surrendered 25 runs in its last two contests, Miami has mustered a majors-worst 34 and has been shut out three times in the last six outings following Thursday afternoon’s 5-0 setback in Cincinnati. Brian Anderson collected two of the five hits recorded by the Marlins, who have lost eight of their last nine heading into the opener of their nine-game homestand.

• Arrieta answered a sterling start with another strong outing, but one bad inning in which he uncorked a run-scoring wild pitch and surrendered a pair of solo homers led to his undoing in a 6-2 setback versus Minnesota. The 2015 National League Cy Young Award recipient improved to 5-1 with a 3.00 ERA in eight career starts against the Marlins after posting a 2-1 record in four meetings last season. Starlin Castro (4-for-10, three doubles) and Curtis Granderson (10-for-32, three homers, 10 RBIs) have flustered Arrieta, although the 33-year-old hurler has kept Lewis Brinson and J.T. Riddle hitless in six at-bats apiece.

• Alcantara followed up a stellar season-opening start by struggling to find the strike zone in his next trip to the mound, allowing five walks in four innings of Saturday’s no-decision at Atlanta. “You can’t pitch away from contact,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of the 23-year-old Dominican’s performance. “You’ve got to use your stuff. I really have to say it was a side step. At least it wasn’t backwards. Not a step forward, a side step.” Alcantara has kept the current crop of Phillies in check in his career, limiting the club to going 1-for-14 with five strikeouts.

• Philadelphia SS Jean Segura leads the team with 14 hits, although he is just 3-for-15 with three strikeouts in his last four games.

• Alfaro is 4-for-10 with two blasts while driving in three runs in his last three contests to boost his team-leading totals in homers (three) and RBIs (six).

• Phillies 3B Maikel Franco is 4-for-26 in his last seven games.