Marlins vs Phillies Preview: Alcantara Locks In Week 64

Sandy Alcantara is Miami's ace, and you're about to see why he's so dangerous. The Dominican right-hander has been absolutely brilliant this season with a 1.64 ERA—that means he's giving up almost no runs. His fastball is a weapon. When Alcantara is locked in like this, batters struggle to catch up to his heat. Philadelphia's hitters got lit up the last two games. Now they face a pitcher firing on all cylinders. This is the kind of matchup that gets fans on their feet.

Look at the scoreboard from the last two games—Miami got crushed 8-2 and 7-0. That's rough. The Phillies' lineup is loaded with power. You saw it yourself: home runs by Marsh, Bohm, and Schwarber in Tuesday's game. Despite those losses, the Marlins are still 36-37 overall and 23-16 at home. They've won seven of their last ten games. Coming to Philadelphia is no joke, but Miami's got the pitching to keep games tight.

Andrew Painter gets the ball for Philadelphia on Wednesday, and he's going to face an offense trying to stay alive. The Phillies are on a roll at 39-33 with a win streak going. Home at Citizens Bank Park is a fortress. Painter needs to keep Miami's bats quiet after how loud they've been lately—well, quieter than usual. If he can pitch deep into the game, the Phillies' bullpen gets a rest. This matchup could set the tone for the rest of the series.