Phillies Aim for Redemption Against Struggling Marlins This Weekend

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The Philadelphia Phillies (11-8) host the Miami Marlins (8-10) this weekend at Citizens Bank Park in a three-game series starting Friday, April 18, 2025. After a rough road trip, the Phillies are looking to bounce back against a Marlins team that has struggled in recent outings.

The Phillies come into the series after splitting a four-game set against the San Francisco Giants, where they lost Thursday’s finale 6-4. Starter Cristopher Sanchez recorded a career-high 12 strikeouts over seven innings. Meanwhile, the Marlins are reeling after being swept in three games at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This matchup features ace Sandy Alcantara for the Marlins, who is set to face off against Zack Wheeler of the Phillies on Friday night. Both teams are looking for key victories as the season progresses.

The Marlins’ pitching has been particularly concerning, ranking fourth worst in the majors with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. The opportunity for the Phillies to capitalize on Miami’s struggles is evident, especially given their recent issues at the plate.

“It’s still early in the season, but we can’t afford to let these games slip away,” said Phillies manager Rob Thomson. “We need to regain our rhythm, especially before hitting the road for a tough stretch against the Mets and Cubs.”

For the Phillies, center field production has been a notable weakness; they hold a -0.8 WAR at this position, the lowest in the National League. Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas have contributed little offensively, creating pressure on the rest of the squad.

Nick Castellanos has been a bright spot for the Phillies, batting .360 over the past week. However, an exit due to a left hip flexor issue raises concerns about his availability as Philadelphia heads into an important series.

“Nick has been one of our key hitters, and we’re hopeful this isn’t serious,” Thomson added. “But we need everyone to step up right now.”

Zack Wheeler’s performance will be closely monitored as he looks to bounce back after allowing nine earned runs in his last two outings. Historically, Wheeler has performed well against the Marlins, holding an 11-4 record with a 2.73 ERA in 25 career starts versus them.

“Every pitcher goes through slumps, but I look for Zack to come out sharp against a team he knows well,” said pitching coach Caleb Cotham.

The pitching matchups for the series feature Alcantara (2-0, 4.70) against Wheeler (1-1, 4.07) on Friday, followed by Cal Quantrill (1-1, 5.79) against Taijuan Walker (1-1, 2.30) on Saturday, and completing with Connor Gillispie (0-2, 6.53) facing Jesus Luzardo (2-0, 2.31) on Sunday.

“This series is crucial for us to regain momentum, especially heading into a tough road trip,” added Wheeler. “We need to put together some strong performances.”

Fans can catch the action live from Citizens Bank Park as the Phillies aim for a series victory against the Marlins. With the potential for high-scoring games given Miami’s struggles and Philly’s pressing need to find offensive rhythm, this weekend’s series promises to be a competitive one.