Marlins' Koehler Takes Mound For Game 3 Of Philly Series
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MIAMI (CBSMiami/SportsDirect) - Division battles in the tightly contested NL East are becoming big, even in May.
The Philadelphia Phillies attempt to claim a series victory over the Miami Marlins for the second time this month when the National League East rivals conclude their three-game set at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday afternoon.
Tommy Joseph had yet to be recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley when Philadelphia took two of three in Miami from May 6-8, but the 24-year-old came up big in his third career major-league game in a 3-1 triumph on Tuesday.
Joseph, who was elevated to the cleanup spot in the lineup, belted his first major-league homer to highlight his three-hit performance as he looks to provide a spark in place of slumping veteran Ryan Howard and fellow first baseman Darin Ruf.
Freddy Galvis carries a seven-game hitting streak into Wednesday's tilt versus Tom Koehler, against whom he is just 4-for-19 (.211) with five strikeouts in his career.
Miami's Marcell Ozuna saw his career high-tying 16-game hitting streak come to a halt on Tuesday, but Adeiny Heachavarria has rebounded from an 0-for-14 stretch to go 7-for-12 with four runs scored in his last three contests. The 27-year-old Cuban is just 2-for-10 in his career versus Wednesday starter Jeremy Hellickson.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins Tom Koehler (2-3, 5.14) vs. Phillies Jeremy Hellickson (3-2, 4.12)
Koehler has been saddled with a no-decision in consecutive starts despite yielding a combined two runs on eight hits in 12 2/3 innings. The 29-year-old struggled with his control in his last outing, however, issuing a season-high five walks to drive up his pitch count.
Koehler enjoyed his best contest of 2016 with a dominating performance versus Philadelphia on May 7, permitting just one run on two hits and striking out eight in a no-decision.
After yielding five homers in his previous two starts, Hellickson rebounded in a big way on Friday as he allowed just two runs on four hits and struck out nine in a 3-2 win over Cincinnati. The 29-year-old was taken deep on two occasions against Miami on May 5, but walked away with a no-decision after laboring through 5 1/3 innings.
Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton is 0-for-6 with five strikeouts in this series and just 1-for-7 - albeit with a homer - in his career versus Hellickson.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia (23-17) is six games over .500 despite having scored 30 fewer runs than it has allowed.
2. Marlins LF Christian Yelich is 9-for-21 with four runs scored and three RBIs in five games versus the Phillies this season.
3. Philadelphia 3B Maikel Franco is 0-for-7 with three strikeouts in the first two games of the series.
PREDICTION: Marlins 3, Phillies 2
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