Fish Bites Episode 78: 2020 MPCS preview

Seven consecutive games between the Marlins (19-19) and Phillies (21-18) will go a long way towards deciding the fate of each team’s 2020 season. To get Fish fans prepared for this all-important opponent, Ely Sussman chats with Alex Carr of The Good Phight. More than one hour of analysis about the Phillies top-heavy starting rotation and volatile bullpen, as well as impactful rookie Alec Bohm and of course, revisiting the J.T. Realmuto/Sixto Sánchez trade.

Enjoy Episode 78!

These NL East rivals have not met on the field since the opening series of the 2020 regular season (Jul. 24-26), when the Marlins took two of the three games...and subsequently flung Major League Baseball into chaos with a COVID-19 outbreak. Although the Fish returned to the field in time for their regularly scheduled Aug. 4-6 series against the Phils in Miami, those games were postponed to squeeze in missed games against other opponents. It’s finally time to make ‘em up.

This will be the first seven-game regular season series in MLB since 1967. Around these parts, we are referring to it as the 2020 Marlins-Philles Championship Series.

The most likely Marlins starting pitcher alignment for the series is Sandy Alcantara (Thursday), Trevor Rogers and Daniel Castano (Friday), José Ureña (Saturday), Sixto Sánchez and Nick Neidert (Sunday), and Pablo López (Monday). Alex anticipates the Phillies using Jake Arrieta, Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Spencer Howard, Vince Velasquez, Zach Eflin and Ranger Suárez in some order.

Game Schedule

• Thursday—6:40 p.m. ET first pitch
• Friday (doubleheader)—5:10 p.m. ET first pitch with second game following approximately 45 minutes after conclusion of the first
• Saturday—6:10 p.m. ET first pitch
• Sunday (doubleheader)—1:10 p.m. ET first pitch with second game following approximately 45 minutes after conclusion of the first
• Monday—4:10 p.m. ET first pitch

According to FanGraphs, the Phillies currently have 89.3% playoff odds while the Marlins are at 35.5%. These franchises haven’t experienced October baseball since 2011 and 2003, respectively, but the expanded postseason format for this shortened campaign—eight NL teams qualify—practically ensures that at least one of them will snap their drought.

Prior to the series opener, I anticipate the Marlins optioning right-hander Jordan Yamamoto (94 pitches on Wednesday night) and left-hander Alex Vesia (50 pitches) to the alternate training site to make room for fresher arms. Also, due to that unusually lengthy and painful game in Atlanta, I can report that the team’s flight arrived at Miami International Airport after 3 a.m. ET (much later than initially planned).

Miscellaneous Fun

• The second-to-last Marlins BP Live show of the season will be streaming Thursday at marlins.com/fandom beginning around 4:30 p.m. Previous episodes have been between 30-50 minutes long.
• Miami’s bats have slumped at Marlins Park so far in 2020 (30 runs scored in 11 games). Small sample size, though. Pay extra close attention to fly balls blasted to right field. Near the foul pole, there is a Presidente beer target. The team will be giving away a year’s supply of unas frías via social media if any Marlins player hits the target during this homestand. (You can save $5 on Presidente right now by ordering on Drizly with promo code UNASFRIAWITHPRES.)

The Fish Stripes podcast is home to Miami Marlins shows Fish Bites, Marlins Barbecue and Earning Their Stripes. All new episodes are posted to FishStripes.com/podcasts. You can subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Podbean, Megaphone or wherever you normally get your pods from.

Follow Fish Stripes (@fishstripes), Alex (@AlexCarrMLB) and Ely (@RealEly) on Twitter. Full coverage here at FishStripes.com.