Phillies: 7-game Marlins set makes up for postponed games

Rare seven-game Phillies-Marlins series comes without reliever Jose Alvarez

The Philadelphia Phillies are amidst a seven-game series against the Miami Marlins. This is due to having to make up several games postponed earlier this season.

Why were the games postponed? Well, I’m sure you remember the Marlins’ COVID-19 outbreak during their stay in the season-opening series in Philadelphia.

Due to both teams being shut down for a time, of course, those games had to be made up somewhere. This caused a four-game series to turn into a seven-game series with two doubleheaders.

RELATED | Phillies: Andrew McCutchen upset about Marlins, hiatus

The Phillies had a travel day on September 9 and will not have an off-day again, which is also a travel day, until September 24.

This seven-game series is their first since 1930. That seven-game series was played against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field from August 16-20, coincidentally also including two doubleheaders.

After their disappointing Game 1 loss to the Marlins on Thursday, the Phillies are now 21-19, still winning six out of their past 10 games; they are three games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East division.

Although their bullpen has improved with some new recent additions, there is some bad news about reliever Jose Alvarez‘s progress.

RELATED | Phillies: Update on reliever Jose Alvarez after being carted off the field

As you may know, Alvarez was hit by a line drive in the groin on August 20 and now it looks as if he is not making the progress needed to make it back in the bullpen by the end of the regular season.

“There’s a chance he won’t pitch in the regular season and if we get him back it would be during the playoffs,” manager Joe Girardi said.

Jose was the most reliable bullpen arm at the time he got injured, with an ERA of 1.42 through eight games on the season.

Hopefully, Alvarez recovers well and can pitch again, pending the Phillies making it into the postseason.