Kyle Schwarber is absolutely locked in. After a blistering four-hit performance on Thursday, the Philadelphia Phillies slugger will look to keep his hot streak alive as his team travels to Miami to face the Marlins on Friday.
It's an early-season showdown between two NL East rivals with contrasting fortunes. The Marlins (15-16) sit second in the division and have been tough to beat at home, posting a 10-6 record at loanDepot park. Meanwhile, the Phillies (12-19) are still searching for consistency, especially on the road where they've stumbled to a 4-9 mark.
Friday's pitching matchup features a pair of arms with something to prove. Zack Wheeler takes the mound for Philadelphia, carrying a solid 3.60 ERA but still looking for his first win of the season. Across the diamond, Miami counters with Eury Perez (2-2, 4.60 ERA), who has racked up 33 strikeouts but has been prone to some hard contact.
The betting odds favor the Phillies at -128, with the over/under set at 8 runs—suggesting this could be a tight, low-scoring affair.
For the Marlins, keep an eye on Liam Hicks, who leads the team with seven home runs and boasts a .576 slugging percentage. Otto Lopez has also been a spark, going 12-for-42 with three doubles in his last 10 games.
Schwarber, of course, is the man to watch in Philadelphia's lineup. He leads the Phillies with 11 home runs and 18 extra-base hits, and he's been a one-man wrecking crew. Brandon Marsh has also been swinging a hot bat, hitting .343 with two homers and six RBIs over the last 10 games.
Recent form tells two different stories. The Marlins have won six of their last 10, outscoring opponents by four runs while posting a tidy 3.51 ERA. The Phillies, on the other hand, are 4-6 in that span and have been outscored by seven runs, with a team ERA of 4.86.
Injury-wise, Miami will be without Pete Fairbanks (thumb), Ronny Henriquez (elbow), Adam Mazur (elbow), and Griffin Conine (hamstring). Philadelphia is dealing with several absences too, including J.T. Realmuto (back), Kyle Backhus (elbow), Max Lazar (oblique), Zach Pop (calf), and Jhoan Duran (oblique).
First pitch is set for Friday. If Schwarber keeps swinging like he did Thursday, the Phillies might just have the spark they need to turn their season around.