Phillies 2020 opponent outlook: Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins will face the Phillies on opening day in 2020
The Phillies schedule will be condensed in 2020 due to COVID-19, which means they’ll face the Miami Marlins only 10 times this year.
Miami finished last season with the third-worst record in baseball by winning only 57 games. After winning 79 games in Don Mattingly’s first season with the team in 2016 the team has taken a step back in the win column every year. That will technically hold true this year with only 60 games on the schedule, but even a 40 win season could mean the playoffs for someone this year.
Miami isn’t expected to be a powerhouse, but in 60 games anyone could emerge with health and luck on their side.
Here’s an in-depth look at what the Phillies will see when they face the Marlins
Phillies vs Marlins 2020 schedule
- July 24, 7:05 p.m. (PHI)
- July 25, 4:05 p.m. (PHI)
- July 26, 1:05 p.m. (PHI)
- August 4, 7:10 p.m. (MIA)
- August 5, 7:10 p.m. (MIA)
- August 6, 7:10 p.m. (MIA)
- September 10, 6:40 p.m. (MIA)
- September 11, 7:10 p.m. (MIA)
- September 12, 6:10 p.m. (MIA)
- September 13, 1:10 p.m. (MIA)
The Marlins added a lot of former Phillies this offseason
The Marlins are still rebuilding and mainly focused on adding veterans to fill holes and lead a young clubhouse.
Their biggest offseason signing was former Phillies outfielder Corey Dickerson, who signed a two-year contract worth $17.5 million. Miami also signed former Phillies Sean Rodriguez, Nick Vincent, and Pat Venditte to minor league deals going into spring training.
Most of the Marlins signings were guys above 32 years old, which included Francisco Cervelli, Brandon Kintzler, and Matt Joyce.
Miami’s biggest addition may have been Jesus Aguilar, who was waived by Tampa Bay just one year removed from hitting 35 home runs for Milwaukee. The power-hitting first baseman will look to prove he was more than just a flash in the pan that earned him an All-Star selection and MVP consideration.
The Marlins also acquired former Phillies prospect Jonathan Villar, who has 20 home run-40 stolen base capabilities.
The Phillies will have to face a more potent Marlins lineup
When the Marlins were preparing for the 2020 season they were likely looking diamonds in the rough who could turn into either capable players or trade chips. Their ability to trade guys might be hindered with less time before the August 31 trade deadline, but they might have picked up those diamonds that could help push them back towards contention.
Catcher – Jorge Alfaro
Phillies fans are very familiar with Jorge Alfaro, top highly-touted catching prospect acquired in the Cole Hamels deal and laster traded to Miami for J.T. Realmuto. Alfaro showed flashes in Philadelphia with tremendous raw power and a great arm behind the plate, but he couldn’t put it together consistently. Alfaro hit a career-high 18 home runs last year for Miami and repeated his .262 batting average
First Base – Jesus Aguilar
As mentioned earlier, Jesus Aguilar can be a potent cleanup hitter for Miami, but he’s coming off a down season with the Brewers where he was traded to the Rays. Now on his fourth team in five years, Aguilar needs to show consistent power and the ability to hit for at least a reasonable average to stay in the big leagues.
Second Base – Isan Diaz/Jonathan Villar
The Marlins website depth chart has Diaz, who was once a top-10 prospect in the organization, as the team’s starting second baseman. Last year in juts 49 games Diaz hit .173 with five home runs, certainly not enough to secure a starting job. Miami could ride it out with him and see if he develops or play Villar and hope to trade him.
Third Base – Jonathan Villar/Brian Anderson
Villar is listed as the Marlins starting third baseman with Brian Anderson, who split time at third and right last year, as the backup. Villar is an average big leaguer with some speed and pop who should help Miami, but he’s a guy who might net them a mid-level prospect at the trade deadline if he gets hot early.
Shortstop – Miguel Rojas
Miguel Rojas is one of the few returning starters for the Miami infield after being among their WAR leaders over the last three seasons. Last year he hit a career-high 29 doubles and raised his batting average to .284 for the fish.
It wasn’t that long ago the Phillies faced a Marlins outfield with Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich
Left Field – Corey Dickerson
The former Phillies outfielder signed a nice contract to start in left field for Miami after a productive couple weeks in Philadelphia after the trade deadline. Dickerson established himself as somewhat of a fan favorite in Philadelphia, hitting eight home runs with a .293 batting average in 34 games, but there wasn’t enough room for him on the Phillies roster beyond 2019. Miami got a Gold Glove winner in left field who can hit .300 and possible put up 20 home runs.
Center Field – Lewis Brinson
At one time Lewis Brinson was among the top prospects in baseball and was highly coveted talent. After the Rangers drafted him 29th overall in 2012 he was traded to Milwaukee for Jonathan Lucroy and later to Miami in a blockbuster for Christian Yelich.
Brinson hasn’t developed into the top prospect he was pegged as with a career .183 batting average. He was pegged to be a potential 20-20 guy, but in three years 20 home runs or 20 stolen bases in 205 games. The Marlins will give him every chance to win a job, but time might be running out for Brinson.
Right Field – Brian Anderson
Brian Anderson is one of the young, budding stars in Miami who finished fourth in the 2018 Rookie of the Year vote. He hit a career-high 20 home runs and had 66 RBI last year, and now he goes into the season not having to focus on playing the infield. Miami might even give him opportunities to DH. He’s a little older (27) than some would expect from a guy who just came up, but for now, he’s one of the Marlins best homegrown players.
The Phillies will see a trail of young Marlins pitchers this season
Sandy Alcantara
The Marlins depth chart lists Sandy Alcantara as their number one starter after he led the team with a 3.88 ERA and two shutouts in 32 starts in his first season as an All-Star. He did allow 23 home runs and 81 walks, but he struck out 151 batters in nearly 200 innings last year.
Caleb Smith
Caleb Smith led the Marlins with 10 wins and 168 strikeouts last year, but like Alcantara he was susceptible to the longball, dishing out 33 in 28 games. Turning 29 in the first week of the season, Smith is the “veteran” of the Marlins rotation despite having just 53 games under his belt.
Pablo López
Pablo López was traded to Miami for veteran reliever David Phelps in 2017 and has made 31 starts since coming up in 2018. Last year he had a 5.09 ERA and gave up 15 home runs in 21 starts for the Marlins, but at 24 he still has time to grow in the Marlins young rotation.
Jose Urena
From the outside looking in it feels like Jose Urena has been a top prospect looking to break out for the Marlins for years. He’s shown flashes since 2016 but for some reason he’s never put it all together. He’s got a 2:1 K:BB ratio in his career but was notorious for hitting batters, leading the league in back to back years in 2017-18.
Philadelphia Phillies
Jordan Yamamoto
Jordan Yamamoto is listed at the back of the Marlins rotation on their depth chart, but he flashed a lot of good stuff as a rookie in 2019. In his first two starts he pitched 14 combined shutout innings with only five hits allowed and 12 strikeouts. He finished the year with a 4.46 ERA and enters this season just 24-years-old. Averaging more than nine strikeouts per nine innings last year, Yamamoto could work his way up in the Marlins rotation.
Bullpen
The Marlins acquired Brandon Kintzler in the offseason, who at 35 was coming off the best season of his career with the Cubs. Kintzler has some experience as a closer, but right now the Marlins depth chart has Drew Steckenrider listed as their closer.
Stechenrider missed most of last year with an elbow injury, but in 108 games during his first two seasons he had a 3.35 ERA and gave up only 11 home runs.
The only other “vet” in the Marlins bullpen is Adam Conley, 30, who is entering his second season as a full-time reliever for the Marlins. Conley looked like a promising starter for the Marlins but tailed off in 2017 with a 6.14 ERA.
Marlins outlook
The Phillies lost nearly half of their games against Miami this year, which would have likely added up in the win column. They’ll most likely win the season series but Miami has some young pieces that could surprise skeptics in the shortened season.