Philadelphia @ Miami preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 1, 2012 ) Philadelphia 2, Miami 5

When the 2012 baseball schedule was released, many presumed the three-game series between the Phillies and the Marlins beginning Monday in Miami would go a long way toward determining the National League East title. Those who guessed it would be a battle for last place, though, were correct. Philadelphia is 18 1/2 games behind first-place Washington while Miami is 19 back. The Marlins lead the series 6-3, including a three-game sweep at home June 29-July 1. Philadelphia took two of three against wild-card contender St. Louis over the weekend to complete a 5-4 homestand. Miami began its six-game set at Marlins Park by losing two of three to Los Angeles and has lost five of its last eight.

Philadelphia's Ryan Howard, who missed the first 84 games of the season after rupturing his left Achilles tendon, will play against the Marlins for the first time in 2012. He is hitting .308 with 34 homers and 97 RBIs in 113 games (396 at-bats) lifetime against them. Cole Hamels, who is coming off his first shutout of the season, is 6-10 with a 3.68 ERA in 22 starts against the Marlins, including 0-3 this season. He will oppose Nathan Eovaldi, who lost to the Phillies 3-2 on July 16 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CS Philadelphia, FS Florida (Miami)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cole Hamels (12-6, 3.08 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Nathan Eovaldi (3-7, 4.33)

Hamels pitched a five-hitter and struck out six for his fifth career shutout and 11th complete game in the Phillies' 3-0 victory over Atlanta on Tuesday. He was 0-2 with a no-decision in his previous three starts, allowing 13 runs (10 earned) and 21 hits in 19 2/3 innings. Hamels has a 5.21 ERA with 22 strikeouts and five walks against the Marlins this season. Miami's roster is hitting .291 against him, with Jose Reyes at .369. Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Lee and John Buck have two homers apiece against Hamels.

Eovaldi allowed six walks and four hits in five innings in Miami's 13-0 victory at New York on Wednesday after yielding six runs and eight hits in two innings in a 6-1 loss at Atlanta on Aug. 2. Eovaldi is 2-1 with a 5.11 ERA and has allowed 17 hits, nine walks and struck out eight in 12 1/3 innings in three starts since coming to Miami in the Hanley Ramirez trade. Eovaldi allowed homers to Howard and Jimmy Rollins in the July 16 game.

WALK-OFFS

1. Miami OF Giancarlo Stanton struck out as a pinch hitter in Sunday's 5-0 loss to Los Angeles. He is 5-for-17 with two homers, two doubles and four RBIs in six games after missing 25 with a injury. He is expected to return to the starting lineup Monday.

2. C Eric Kratz tied the game with a three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Phillies went on to an 8-7 victory in 11 innings Sunday. Kratz, who has played 30 major league games, is hitting .333 with five homers and 12 RBIs in 20 contests (45 at-bats) this season. He is expected to continue splitting time with Brian Schneider with Carlos Ruiz on the disabled list.

3. Howard also went deep Sunday and has seven homers, 18 RBIs and 40 strikeouts in 100 at-bats this season.