Marlins Take First Home Series from Phillies

The Miami Marlins opened their 2022 home schedule with yet another series win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Miami took the home opener with 31,184 fans in attendance last Thursday. That crowd proved to be the largest to attend a game at loanDepot park since Opening Day in 2018, when 32,151 fans watched the Marlins play the Cubs.

The Marlins saw an average of 17,015 fans attend the series against the Phillies, which is nearly 10,000 more than their average attendance last season and 7,000 more than their attendance in 2019, the last season without attendance restrictions. Those encouraging numbers came despite the team’s slow offensive start on the road.

Marlins Offense Finds Its Spark in Series vs Phillies

The new-look Marlins offense scored five on Opening Day in what was a one-run loss to the San Francisco Giants. But Miami wouldn’t get over that figure again until the team’s first home stand over the weekend. The Marlins ultimately took the four-game series against the Phillies, 3-1.

The Marlins offense came to life against their NL East division rivals, outscoring the Phillies 25-17 for the series. Miami put up four runs in a rally during the home opener, sparked by a Garrett Cooper home run. The Marlins then followed that with an impressive 7-1 victory on Friday night, and capped the series with an 11-3 win over the Phillies on Easter Sunday.

Miami’s offense scored 6.3 runs per game for the series versus the Phillies, a figure that ties them for the second-best runs-per-game average at home early in the season. Conversely, the Marlins scored just 2.8 runs-per-game during their first road trip (25th in MLB). For the season, Miami now averages 4.3 runs-per-game (14th in MLB).

The Marlins lineup pounced on Philly’s pitching staff, recording 16 extra-base hits in the series versus the Phillies. Miami managed just nine extra-base hits during their five-game road trip to start the season.

After a 2-for-29 start with runners-in-scoring-position (.069 batting average), the Marlins broke out in the series against the Phillies, going 14-for-42 (.333) in that situation.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jesus Sanchez proved the biggest lifts for Miami’s offense. The two combined to record 10 hits (in 24 at-bats), with four triples, two doubles, and 10 RBI between them.

Jazz is fast!

Watch ➡️ https://t.co/3EkiEfSeOj#MLB | #MakeItMiami pic.twitter.com/nryRVPkbhS

— Bally Sports Florida: Marlins (@BallyMarlins) April 17, 2022

It was also nice to see Miami’s main free agent additions, Avisail Garcia and Jorge Soler, find some success at home. The two combined for four extra-base hits, including two no-doubt home runs, in the series. Neither registered an extra-base hit on the road trip.

Starting Pitching Dominates

The strength of this Marlins team remains the starting rotation. That strength was on full display for the Marlins in this series against the Phillies. Three of Miami’s four starters registered a win in their game, with only Trevor Rodgers taking a loss.

Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez, and Elieser Hernandez combined to toss 17.2 innings in the series, allowing just three earned runs in the process (1.53 ERA). Lopez held Philadelphia scoreless over 5.1 innings on Friday. Hernandez was particularly impressive on Sunday, out-dueling Phillies ace Zach Wheeler to help the Marlins win the series. Hernandez went six innings, striking out five, allowing just one earned run.

Scoreless.

👏: @pablojoselopez pic.twitter.com/4YDnwaAWKK

— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) April 16, 2022

Rodgers, meanwhile, struggled in his start against Philadelphia. The 24-year-old lefty couldn’t make it out of the second inning on Saturday night, surrendering seven runs in the process. Rodgers labored through the first, needing 40 pitches to complete the frame. He wasn’t helped by a botched run-down play where Jon Berti collided with Cooper, allowing Philadelphia to score and extend the inning.

Rodgers struggled with his command, and Marlins pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre Jr. implied after the game Rodgers may have been tipping his pitches. His changeup has been particularly ineffective this season. Following a season in which his changeup sported a 33.7 percent whiff rate, Rodgers has not induced a swing-and-miss with his changeup so far in 2022.

Rodgers’ shortest outings prior to this 1.2 inning stint came in 2020, when as a rookie Rodgers went 3.0 innings in three different starts. His shortest outing in 2021 was a 3.2 inning turn against the New York Mets at home in late July.

Bullpen Also Impressive

Miami’s bullpen continued its solid string of work during this Marlins series victory over the Phillies. Marlins relievers accounted for 16.2 innings and allowing just five earned runs in those frames (2.78 ERA). Miami’s bullpen notched 16 strikeouts of Phillies hitters, issuing four walks and hitting two batters.

Anthony Bender recorded his second save of the season, nailing down the win during the home opener. Anthony Bass, Steven Overt, and Cole Sulser all registered holds during the series.

Marlins Must Maintain Offensive Attack

The Marlins first home stand of the season closes this week following a three-game series with the St Louis Cardinals. The Marlins scored 25 runs in the series with the Phillies, but Miami struggled to score against the Cardinals last season.

St Louis swept the season series from the Marlins, 6-0, including two shut outs. The Cardinals pitching staff held the Fish to six total runs in those games.

The Marlins offensive metrics are up following the series versus the Phillies. Miami’s up to 11th in OPS (.717.), 13th in batting average (.239), and 19th in Runs Scored (39). The Marlins jumped from 30th to 20th hitting with runners-in-scoring-position with their solid series against the Phillies. They’re hitting .225 for the season in that metric.

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