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Phillies meet the Marlins with 2-1 series lead

Phillies meet the Marlins with 2-1 series lead

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Philadelphia Phillies (44-30, second in the NL East) vs. Miami Marlins (29-43, fifth in the NL East)
Miami; Thursday, 6:40 p.m. EDT
PITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Cristopher Sanchez (5-2, 2.94 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 88 strikeouts); Marlins: Edward Cabrera (2-2, 4.10 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 58 strikeouts)
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Phillies -175, Marlins +146; over/under is 7 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies take a 2-1 lead into the next game of the series against the Miami Marlins.
Miami has a 15-22 record at home and a 29-43 record overall. The Marlins have a 13-7 record in games when they did not allow a home run.
Philadelphia has gone 20-17 in road games and 44-30 overall. Phillies hitters are batting a collective .257, which ranks second in the NL.
The matchup Thursday is the seventh time these teams meet this season. The Phillies have a 4-2 advantage in the season series.
TOP PERFORMERS: Agustin Ramirez leads the Marlins with 10 home runs while slugging .451. Jesus Sanchez is 7 for 37 with three home runs and 10 RBIs over the past 10 games.
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Kyle Schwarber has nine doubles, a triple and 22 home runs for the Phillies. Alec Bohm is 16 for 41 with two doubles and two home runs over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Marlins: 5-5, .267 batting average, 4.55 ERA, outscored by five runs
Phillies: 7-3, .288 batting average, 3.10 ERA, outscored opponents by 17 runs
INJURIES: Marlins: Ryan Weathers: 60-Day IL (lat), Jesus Tinoco: 15-Day IL (forearm), Max Meyer: 15-Day IL (hip), Derek Hill: 10-Day IL (wrist), Rob Brantly: 60-Day IL (lat), Griffin Conine: 60-Day IL (arm), Andrew Nardi: 60-Day IL (back), Braxton Garrett: 60-Day IL (elbow)
Phillies: Otto Kemp: day-to-day (knee), Bryce Harper: 10-Day IL (wrist), Aaron Nola: 15-Day IL (ankle)
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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4 Braves takeaways: Vibing after sweep of Mets, 20-year-old pitches Friday, Acuña feats, more
4 Braves takeaways: Vibing after sweep of Mets, 20-year-old pitches Friday, Acuña feats, more

New York Times

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4 Braves takeaways: Vibing after sweep of Mets, 20-year-old pitches Friday, Acuña feats, more

ATLANTA — Eleven days ago, the Braves had stumbled through their second seven-game losing streak of the first half of the season and dropped a sixth consecutive series. Now they've won three series in a row and seven of their last nine games. And four days after an embarrassing 10-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies, the Braves finished a series sweep of their NL East rival New York Mets, who came to Atlanta with the National League's best record, with a 7-1 win Thursday, Advertisement Spencer Strider pitched six strong innings, and Matt Olson broke things open with a three-run double to fuel Atlanta's 26th win in 36 games against the Mets since 2022. 'I feel like that's the closest we've been to playing just a complete series,' said Strider, who had eight strikeouts with one walk. 'We know what we're capable of. Speaking for myself, and I'm sure for everybody else, it's just reassuring to go out and have some justification for the work you've been doing and that belief that we've had this whole time that we can play better baseball. 'Now the challenge is to continue to do it, obviously. It doesn't get easier from here.' Atlanta still trails the Mets and now co-leading Philadelphia Phillies by 10 games in the East, but the Braves have regained momentum and have 10 more games against the Mets, including a four-game series that starts Monday at New York. 'The last three series have been really good, and to cap it off with a (sweep) against the Mets is huge,' said third baseman Austin Riley, who had one of the Braves' season-high nine walks Thursday. 'The biggest thing I hope we can take from this is just that we can compete with anybody. I just hope we can take the confidence away from that and keep it rolling. That was an unbelievable series.' The Braves are within five games of the third and final wild-card spot with 89 to go. Ample time, if they can continue playing as they did during a 5-1 homestand — when the Braves' starting rotation looked as deep as any in the majors and the offense averaged more than 5 1/2 runs despite still having some glaring soft spots in the lineup. After Chris Sale's sensational 8 2/3 innings in Wednesday's 5-0 shutout, Strider came through with his second impressive start in a row. After going 0-5 with a 5.40 ERA in his first starts while shaking off rust from a yearlong rehab for elbow surgery, and also a month sidelined by a hamstring strain, Strider is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA, 21 Ks and two walks in his last two starts. Advertisement 'I kind of feel like our old selves again,' Braves manager Brian Snitker said. 'This was a really good series. Did some things we hadn't been doing. So, hopefully, that's the start of something really good that we continue to build on.' The Braves are calling up Colombian prospect Didier Fuentes, who turned 20 on Tuesday, to start Friday's series opener at Miami after just six starts above Single A. It's a spot start to allow other Braves to get extra rest before next week's series at New York, and a good showing could put Fuentes in line for more chances this summer. Reliever José Ruiz was designated for assignment to open a roster spot for Fuentes, who will be the first major leaguer born in 2005 and only current one under 21. The 6-foot right-hander will be the third-youngest to pitch for the Braves in the team's Atlanta era since 1966. The move will allow Spencer Schwellenbach, Sale and Strider to start on extra rest against the Mets. Grant Holmes and Bryce Elder will start Saturday and Sunday at Miami. Fuentes, who throws a fastball that reaches 97 mph and a slider, entered this spring ranked as the Braves' No. 11 prospect by The Athletic's Keith Law and No. 7 by Baseball America. But after drawing attention at spring training with seven strikeouts in three scoreless innings against Detroit Tigers prospects in the Spring Breakout game, Fuentes climbed to No. 3 in the Braves system according to FanGraphs, which has him 82nd overall in its top 100 prospects. Not bad for a kid the Braves signed for $75,000 in 2022. Didier Fuentes tossed a beaut in his Triple-A debut 👏 4.2 IP | 3 H | 1 R | 1 ER | 0 BB | 6 SO — Gwinnett Stripers (@GoStripers) June 14, 2025 What has Snitker heard about Fuentes from Braves player development officials and minor-league staffers? 'It's just all really good stuff,' Snitker said. 'The guy throws strikes, and he's got a good fastball that plays. It sounds like he's a kid that's kind of above his years, as far as maturity and (throwing) strikes and (his) stuff.' 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This from a team that had just 12 sacrifice flies through June 12, the fewest in the majors. They also had a majors-worst .267 average with a runner on third and less than two outs before this homestand. They went 3-for-10 with a walk and those five sac flies on the homestand before Thursday, when the big blow in the game was Olson's bases-loaded double with one out in the sixth. 'I feel really good about what we've been doing lately,' Snitker said of situational improvement. 'It's starting to come around with more than just one guy. It's what we've been striving to do. So, hopefully, we're gonna get in a groove where we're passing the baton and keeping the thing moving and being more like what we're capable of.' Riley said of Atlanta's offensive improvement, 'You go through periods where you put pressure on yourself and you want it so bad and then it just kind of spirals. At some point, you just got to let it go, let the game come to you and relax. 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Vaughan pitched in just two MLB games, that start in 1966 and a relief appearance in June 1969. (Photo of Spencer Strider: Edward M. Pio Roda / Getty Images)

Phillies takeaways: Kyle Schwarber's slump, Bryce Harper's progress, new LF platoon?
Phillies takeaways: Kyle Schwarber's slump, Bryce Harper's progress, new LF platoon?

New York Times

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Schwarber felt good about his at-bats versus the Blue Jays last weekend. Then came some frustration with hitting the ball hard and seeing little success at the plate in Miami — until Thursday's 428-foot shot in the eighth. 'It's just trying to be able to minimize the struggles and get back on track as soon as you can where, you know, I struggled for a week and half, almost two weeks,' Schwarber said. 'But feeling like, if you keep putting in that consistent work throughout the course of the year, that more good things will happen through a longer stretch than bad things in a short stretch.' Kyle Schwarber puts the @Phillies in front with a 428-foot blast! — MLB (@MLB) June 20, 2025 Aaron Nola, moved to the 60-day injured list Thursday, said he's starting to feel better. The sprained ankle that first sent him to the IL has healed. His right ribs, which were diagnosed with a stress fracture, have felt better — though he said he still feels it here and there. 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The next step, Thomson said, is to get Harper outside Friday to throw more and swing off a tee. It's not clear when Nola or Harper may be reinstated from the IL, though the right-hander can't return until July 14. Nola will need to go through a build-up, including throwing, bullpens and rehab starts. Swinging and throwing are, obviously, positive steps for Harper. Weston Wilson, who was part of the platoon in left field with Max Kepler, was demoted to Triple A on Thursday. Thomson said he was optioned to get more playing time and work on his timing and swing. Wilson played in just six games in June, as Kepler saw more time. Initially, it looked as though the Phillies might allow Kepler — who has hit .286 with a 1.090 OPS since June 9 — to take over the position. But Otto Kemp, who saw limited time in left in Triple A, could now 'possibly' play alongside Kepler in a strict platoon, Thomson said. Advertisement 'He's really athletic, and he runs better than people think,' Thomson said. 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Mets look to stop 6-game slide, play the Phillies
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Associated Press

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  • Associated Press

Mets look to stop 6-game slide, play the Phillies

New York Mets (45-30, first in the NL East) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (45-30, second in the NL East) Philadelphia; Friday, 7:15 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Mets: Blade Tidwell (0-0); Phillies: Zack Wheeler (7-2, 2.76 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 110 strikeouts) BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Phillies -244, Mets +199; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets are looking to end a six-game skid with a win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Philadelphia has a 45-30 record overall and a 24-13 record at home. Phillies hitters have a collective .331 on-base percentage, the third-best percentage in the majors. New York has a 45-30 record overall and an 18-20 record in road games. The Mets have hit 93 total home runs to rank fourth in the NL. The matchup Friday is the fourth meeting between these teams this season. TOP PERFORMERS: Trea Turner has 15 doubles, two triples, nine home runs and 34 RBIs while hitting .300 for the Phillies. Alec Bohm is 17 for 41 with two doubles and two home runs over the last 10 games. Pete Alonso leads the Mets with 40 extra base hits (22 doubles, a triple and 17 home runs). Brandon Nimmo is 12 for 41 with a double, three home runs and five RBIs over the past 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Phillies: 8-2, .295 batting average, 2.97 ERA, outscored opponents by 19 runs Mets: 4-6, .237 batting average, 4.64 ERA, outscored by 12 runs INJURIES: Phillies: Aaron Nola: 60-Day IL (ankle), Bryce Harper: 10-Day IL (wrist) Mets: Max Kranick: 15-Day IL (elbow), Tylor Megill: 15-Day IL (elbow), Brett Baty: day-to-day (groin), Kodai Senga: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Brooks Raley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Mark Vientos: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Jesse Winker: 10-Day IL (side), Danny Young: 60-Day IL (elbow), A.J. Minter: 60-Day IL (lat), Frankie Montas: 60-Day IL (lat), Sean Manaea: 60-Day IL (oblique), Jose Siri: 10-Day IL (shin), Nick Madrigal: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Drew Smith: 60-Day IL (elbow), Christian Scott: 60-Day IL (elbow) ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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