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Both the Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins are in the race for the NL East title – no surprise for the Phillies but a huge one for the Phillies. The open a big weekend series in South Florida on Thursday.

How to Bet Phillies at Marlins MLB Odds & TV Info

When: Thursday, 6:40 PM ET
Where: Marlins Park
Probable pitchers (away/home): Jake Arrieta/Sandy Alcantara
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/gameday audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/
Opening MLB Lines: TBA

Why Bet on Philadelphia?

The Phillies remain without two regulars in outfielder Scott Kingery and outfielder/DH Jay Bruce. In addition, outfielder Roman Quinn is on the seven-day concussion list. Outfielder Kyle Garlick and Right-hander Mauricio Llovera were recalled from the Phillies’ alternate training site, replacing the injured Phils on the active roster.

Bruce had just returned last week from a left quad strain but then reinjured that quad on Saturday and was placed back on the injured list. Philadelphia has only four primary outfielders on the active roster — Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen, Haseley and Garlick — and the team is trying to limit McCutchen’s outfield reps after he tore the ACL in his left knee last year. Kingery could be back this week.

“A little challenging right now,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said about his outfield depth. “I think we have to figure out some things.”

Haseley is the only true center fielder on the roster. Meanwhile, some combination of Phil Gosselin and Neil Walker may assume the bulk of the DH duties with Bruce on the shelf. Beyond the 40-man roster, the Phillies have outfielders Mikie Mahtook, Nick Martini and Mickey Moniak in their 60-man player pool.

It’s scheduled to be former NL Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta (3-4) on the mound. Arrieta gave up two runs over seven innings in Friday’s 5-3 victory over the Mets. It was an impressive performance on the heels of the shortest outing of his career. Arrieta yielded seven hits and walked just one, with the only damage coming on a two-run homer off the bat of Michael Conforto in the fifth inning. The Phillies scored the go-ahead run in the seventh and tacked on two more in the eighth to put him in position for the win.

It was his second quality start of the season, but the poor outings have outnumbered the good ones this year for the 34-year-old. He’ll carry a 5.67 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 25:11 K:BB through 33.1 innings into this one.

Why Bet on Miami?

Even though Brandon Kintzler blew a save Monday against Atlanta and Nick Vincent notched the save for the Marlins with a scoreless 10th inning, Kintzler remains the top option to close games. Kintzler came on in the ninth inning to protect a 4-3 lead, but immediately coughed it up by allowing a solo home run to Adam Duvall. He got into more trouble, loading the bases with one out, before inducing a double play to escape with the game tied. Kintzler has now allowed an earned run and blown a save in each of his past two appearances but has been pretty good overall.

Shortstop Jon Berti suffered an index finger contusion late in Monday’s game against the Braves but it’s nothing serious.

Meanwhile, the Marlins have really faced some tough pitchers this year, facing a former Cy Young Award winner in eight of their games: Blake Snell, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello and Jacob deGrom. Miami has gone 3-5 in those eight contests. The team faces another one here in the Phillies’ Arrieta.

It’s Sandy Alcantara (2-1) scheduled for the Marlins. Alcantara struck out eight batters over six innings of one-run ball Saturday in the Marlins’ 7-3 win over the Rays. Alcantara got roughed up in his first start back from the COVID-19 injured but was much better Saturday while limiting the damage to three hits, three walks, and the one RBI double by Michael Perez in the fifth inning.

Alcantara lowered his ERA to a 3.78 but has shown some struggles finding the strike zone at times, owning a 17:7 K:BB across 16.2 innings of work this season.

On July 24, he pitched at Philadelphia in the season opener and got the win, allowing two runs (one earned) over 6 2/3 innings against the Phillies. Alcantara struck out seven batters and walked just two. He gave up just three hits in all, including a solo homer to Didi Gregorius in the fifth inning. The unearned run scored after Jonathan Villar dropped a sure out in center field.