Philadelphia Phillies vs. Miami Marlins Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 4/16/2022

Time: 6:10 p.m. ET

Venue: loanDepot park, Miami, FL

Where to watch: MyTeams App (Phillies), Bally Sports Florida

DraftKings: Even

BetMGM: Even

Caesars: Even

Phillies: 3-5

Marlins: 3-4

So much for that strong start by the Philadelphia Phillies. After winning three of their first four to begin the season, the high-powered Phillies have cooled off with four straight losses, including the first two in this four-game series against the Miami Marlins.

The third game of this one, where the Marlins will have a chance to go up 3-0 in this early-season series, is Saturday in Miami. And if you’re a Marlins fan, you have plenty to like so far despite starting 3-4. Because, for one thing, you’re not 3-5 like the Phillies are. At this time of year, the Marlins will take what they can get.

Jesus Aguilar drove in three runs despite only going 1-for-2 at the plate, and Pablo Lopez went 5.1 innings and only gave up four hits in Miami’s dominant victory. The Marlins scored two runs each in the first and second inning to put the pressure on, then added two more in the fifth led by a Jesus Sanchez RBI triple – his second straight game with a triple, to essentially put the game away.

“You know this game, a lot of ups and downs,” Aguilar said. “When we got back home, I think we’ve played really good at everything. We’ve got to come through here. We’re playing right.”

So far, that’s all the Marlins can ask for is playing really good at everything, because such a thing has not existed for a long time in Miami. They’re still a ways away in this rebuild, especially when it comes to the pitching staff, but performances from the likes of Lopez and a shutdown effort from the bullpen like the one they had tonight is going to be considered a good thing going down the road.

Unfortunately while the Marlins are getting wins that won’t alert the attention of most, the attention goes to the Phillies and all the money they invested in the offseason is getting off to a ridiculously quiet start for the figured favorites of the NL East.

The Phillies had eight hits, but got hardly any production from the big bats. Outside of a Nick Castellanos home run in the top of the eighth, Bryce Harper went 0-for-4 to move his batting average down to .138 to start the year, and Kyle Schwarber went 0-for-5 from the leadoff spot to crash toward .094 in his first season with the Phillies.

Zach Eflin lasted only four innings while giving up those four runs on six hits. Nick Nelson came in out of the bullpen and wasn’t any better, throwing 47 pitches with only 21 of them as strikes. He allowed three runs on four hits while walking three.

“There are going to be many a day that are going to be like this, and there are going to be many days differently,” Schwarber said. “I think you guys will see there will be frustration but once it’s over with, it’s over with. All you can do is keep working.”

When Dave Roberts pulled Clayton Kershaw after the seventh inning during his perfect game the other day, Kershaw defended the decision while also blaming the lockout for not providing the ample opportunities to get things rolling. I think the same thing can be said for teams as a whole. The Phillies are going to need time to get rolling. I can’t expect Harper and Castellanos, for example, to keep hitting this poorly. They’ll turn it around in due time.

Will it be in time to get a win against Miami on Saturday? Time will tell.

Ranger Suarez is going for the Phillies, and he’ll be in need for a rebound effort after going just 2.2 innings against the Mets five days ago and giving up three runs on five hits. He’ll face Trevor Rogers, who doesn’t have a decision yet either heading into his second start. The Phillies are going to need a better effort from the bats, and I think this is the time they’ll snap this losing streak and get the offense rolling. Phillies win 7-4

Phillies are 46-66 on the road the past three seasons.

Marlins are 58-54 at home the past three seasons.

Under is 5-2 in the Marlins' first seven games this season.

Phillies:
Kyle Schwarber (L) LF
Rhys Hoskins (R) 1B
Bryce Harper (L) RF
Nick Castellanos (R) DH
Didi Gregorius (L) SS
Johan Camargo (S) 3B
Bryson Stott (L) 2B
Garrett Stubbs (L) C
Simon Muzziotti (L) CF
Ranger Suarez (LHP)

Marlins:
Jorge Soler (R) LF
Garrett Cooper (R) DH
Jesus Sanchez (L) CF
Jesus Aguilar (R) 1B
Avisail Garcia (R) RF
Joey Wendle (L) 3B
Jacob Stallings (R) C
Miguel Rojas (R) SS
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B
Trevor Rogers (LHP)

Batting average: J.T. Realmuto -- .360

Hits: Two tied -- 9

Home runs: Two tied -- 2

RBI: Two tied -- 5

Wins: Three tied -- 1

Saves: Two tied -- 1

ERA: Kyle Gibson -- 3.09

Batting average: Jesus Sanchez -- .310

Hits: Jesus Sanchez -- 9

Home runs: Two tied -- 2

RBI: Jazz Chisholm -- 7

Wins: Three tied -- 1

Saves: Anthony Bender -- 2

ERA: Pablo Lopez -- 0.87