Philadelphia Phillies vs. Miami Marlins Pick & Prediction SEPTEMBER 8th 2024
Preview and Prediction
Philadelphia Phillies skipper Rob Thomson expressed his surprise on Saturday, admitting he was caught off guard by a new player in the clubhouse.
"I walked in and saw this unfamiliar face," Thomson recalled. "I had no clue who he was."
The newcomer was revealed to be right-handed pitcher Seth Johnson, a promising prospect for the Phillies who is set to make his major league debut in the series finale against the Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon.
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Johnson, who will turn 26 on September 19, was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays out of Campbell University as the 40th pick in the 2019 MLB Draft.
"He seems like a good kid," Thomson commented. "He told me he's ready to go. From what I've seen of his minor league footage, he looks solid. He's throwing strikes and has a good delivery."
The Phillies, who currently hold the top spot in the National League East with an 85-57 record, are giving Johnson a golden opportunity to showcase his skills at the highest level.
This season, Johnson has pitched for three different minor league teams, ranging from Double-A to Triple-A, and has posted a 2-7 record with a 2.33 ERA. In 23 starts, he has recorded 83 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings.
After their six-game winning streak was snapped with a 9-5 loss to the Marlins on Saturday, the Phillies will be looking to bounce back against Miami (53-89), who currently holds one of the worst records in the league.
The Marlins are expected to start right-hander Edward Cabrera on Sunday.
Cabrera (3-6, 5.33 ERA) was originally scheduled to start on Friday, but was a late scratch due to a migraine that sent him to the hospital just an hour before game time. Fortunately, everything checked out well for Cabrera, who owns a 1-2 record with a 4.70 ERA in five career starts against the Phillies.
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The Marlins have a 7-9 record when Cabrera starts, but his tendency to walk too many batters (5.0 per nine innings) could prove to be a challenge against the Phillies' lineup, which boasts several power arms and a high strikeout rate (9.9 per nine innings).
Marlins manager Skip Schumaker announced that rookie Javier Sanoja will be starting at an unspecified position on Sunday. Sanoja made his major league debut on Saturday, recording an RBI on a pinch-hit groundout.
"He's versatile - he can play second base, shortstop, and center field," Schumaker said. "He's a valuable addition to our roster."
After suffering a humiliating 16-2 defeat at the hands of the Phillies on Friday, Schumaker believes that call-ups like Sanoja can help lift the team's spirits.
"It changes the mood quickly," Schumaker said. "It's exciting. (Sanoja) has great bat-to-ball skills, and we believe he can produce even against tough power arms."
Schumaker also praised the Phillies, stating that they will be a "nightmare" for any team that faces them in the playoffs. In the meantime, the Marlins have a chance to split the four-game series on Sunday, especially if rookie third baseman Connor Norby continues to perform well.
Norby went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs on Saturday, bringing his OPS for the season to .846. He has shown a preference for hitting to the opposite field, as evidenced by his home run to right-center field on Saturday.
"I joke that I can't hit a fastball in the air to the pull side, but I'm working on it," Norby said. "But that was my approach in college - I learned how to go the other way better than most people."
Philadelphia Phillies vs. Miami Marlins Recap SEP 8TH 2024
Connor Norby slugged a pair of two-run homers, and Edward Cabrera pitched seven scoreless innings, leading the host Miami Marlins to a 10-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday afternoon.
Norby has been impressive since being traded by the Orioles on July 30. In 18 games with the Marlins, he has hit seven doubles and six homers.
Cabrera (4-6), who was a late scratch from Friday's start due to a migraine, gave the Phillies a headache on Sunday.
The right-hander was perfect through three innings, and he had a no-hitter after five. In total, Cabrera allowed three hits and two walks with six strikeouts. It was the second time this year that he pitched seven scoreless frames.
Marlins rookie center fielder Javier Sanoja made his first major league start, going 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. The versatile Sanoja, who turned 22 on Tuesday, finished the game playing shortstop.
Philadelphia starter Seth Johnson made his major league debut, and he took the loss, allowing eight hits, three walks and nine runs in 2 1/3 innings.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson saved his bullpen at the end of the game, using catcher Garrett Stubbs on the mound. Stubbs pitched one scoreless inning, allowing just one single.
The Phillies (85-58) and Marlins (54-89) split the four-game series, which is surprising given that Philadelphia is in first place in the National League East and Miami has one of the three worst records in the majors.
Then again, Miami jumped on Johnson right away as leadoff batter Xavier Edwards walked, stole second and scored on Norby's first homer, a 418-foot drive to left-center.
That gave Miami a 2-0 lead just 10 pitches into the bottom of the first.
Sanoja led off the second with a double, advanced on Nick Fortes' groundout and scored on Edwards' sacrifice fly.
The Marlins scored seven times in the third. Miami got RBI singles from Otto Lopez, Griffin Conine and Sanoja. Fortes added a two-run double, and Norby's second homer made it 10-0.
Philadelphia ruined Miami's bid at a shutout, getting an RBI single by Bryce Harper in the ninth.