Miami MarlinsMiami Marlins vs. Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies Pick Center

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Phillies open homestand against Marlins The Philadelphia Phillies will be looking for their second consecutive win when they host the Miami Marlins on Thursday night.Philadelphia will play four games against the Marlins to open a nine-game homestand.The Phillies salvaged the series finale on the road against the New York Mets with a 6-0 win. After losing three of four at Colorado and then the first two games in New York, the Phillies (13-11) responded with a resounding shutout win on Wednesday.Rhys Hoskins had two hits, including a two-run home run in the ninth inning, his seventh of the season. Hoskins also tripled earlier in the eighth."Get back in front of the fans and feel the energy," Hoskins told NBC Sports Philadelphia about heading back home. "It's been like that since the beginning of the year." The Phillies will attempt to shift the momentum back home with right-hander Aaron Nola on the mound.After finishing third in the NL Cy Young voting last season, Nola has struggled quite a bit through his first five starts this season.But there was a lot to be encouraged about last Saturday in Colorado as Nola allowed nine hits in 5 2/3 innings. It was enough to improve to 2-0 with a 6.84 earned run average."I just had to slow my mind down, slow the game down," Nola told reporters. "There's no other way to do it besides slowing it down." Nola is 3-4 with a 3.71 ERA in 10 career starts against the Marlins.Phillies manager Gabe Kapler witnessed Nola's solid mechanics last season as a rookie manager. Though this season has been rough, Kapler saw an improved version against the Rockies."That was as good as we've seen Nola this season," Kapler said. "I actually think his stuff was spinning more from the dugout and it had more life from the dugout." The struggling Marlins (7-17) will hand the ball to their best starting pitcher in left-hander Caleb Smith. Through four starts, Smith is 2-0 with a 2.35 ERA. Smith has 29 strikeouts in 23 innings and he hasn't allowed more than three runs or six baserunners in any of his starts.In Smith's last start, a 3-2 win over Washington on Friday, Smith gave up just five hits and one run in six innings.Smith is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two career starts against the Phillies.Smith remains one of the most pleasant surprises regarding starting pitchers in the National League."Once I get locked in, I just have tunnel vision," Smith told reporters. "I don't know what it is. Once I get settled in, it's hard to get me out of it." The same goes for catcher Jorge Alfaro, who was acquired before the season in a blockbuster trade with the Phillies, which had J. T. Realmuto sent north.Alfaro is hitting .281 with four home runs and seven RBIs."The guy has been great for us," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Alfaro. "Jorge comes in enthusiastic every day and has tons of energy. He also is another guy who asks a lot of questions and he's fearless at the plate. When he steps in there, there is no give in at all." The Marlins fell 6-2 in the series finale Wednesday at Cleveland, but Martin Prado smacked a solo homer, his first since July 5, 2018. Prado's shot briefly tied the game at 2 before the Indians scored four times in the eighth.Miami third baseman Brian Anderson reached base safely again, extending his streak to 12 in a row. During this span, Anderson is hitting .341 -- 15 for 44.--Field Level Media

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