Phillies: Vince Velasquez Has Owned the Marlins This Season

Phillies pitcher Vince Velasquez has been lights-out against the 2021 Marlins.

Through 19 appearances and 77 1/3 innings pitched this season, Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitcher Vince Velasquez has posted an even 5.00 ERA — allowing 65 hits, 44 runs (43 earned), 42 walks, and 15 home runs, while striking out 81 of 333 batters faced. Not exactly stellar.

However, when opposing the Miami Marlins specifically this season, Velasquez has been lights-out. In three starts, he is 2-0 with a perfect 0.00 ERA, 0.611 WHIP, and 16-5 strikeouts-to-walks ratio over 18 innings. Across these three starts, Velasquez has surrendered just six hits (including five singles) and five walks — limiting Marlins batters to a .107/.194/.125 slash line.

Velasquez’s most recent appearance against the Marlins occurred during Saturday’s eventually suspended contest due to rain. Across five scoreless innings and 18 batters faced, the California native allowed just one hit and two walks, while striking out four batters.

With just 84 pitches thrown, manager Joe Girardi may have called on Velasquez to start the sixth inning, however a rain delay before that likely made the skipper feel a pitching change was the best decision.

Velasquez was in line to improve to 3-0 in three starts against the Marlins in 2021, but recently-appointed closer Ranger Suarez surrendered a game-tying home run in the ninth. The game resumed in extra innings on Sunday and quickly ended thanks to a two-run, walk-off home run from All-Star catcher J.T. Realmuto.

The right-hander’s start was a vast improvement from his previous outing, when he allowed six hits, eight runs (all earned), four walks, and three home runs in just 2 1/3 innings in an eventual 11-5 loss to the Boston Red Sox. The following day, a Phillies fan waiting for players to get on the team bus outside Fenway Park yelled at Velasquez, who was not shy to respond back.

Velasquez surely appeared to bounce back from his interleague outing and subsequent fan interaction, for which he apologized on Instagram.

If only every Phillies game was a Velasquez start against the Marlins.