Philadelphia @ Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 4, 2011 ) Philadelphia 1, Florida 0

THE STORY: The Philadelphia Phillies must like the taste of fish because they have been feasting on the Florida Marlins for quite some time. Charlie Manuel's club posted their sixth straight victory over the Marlins on Monday and eighth in 10 games this season with a 1-0 road triumph in the opener of the three-game series. All-Star Cole Hamels will take the mound on Tuesday for the Phillies, who have won 20 of their past 24 in Miami. Chris Volstad will provide the opposition for the Marlins, who have dropped 13 of their 15 at Sun Life Stadium.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN (Philadelphia), Fox Sports Florida

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies LH Cole Hamels (9-4, 2.41 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Chris Volstad (4-7, 5.01 ERA)

Hamels has pitched well since notching his ninth win of the season, although his record doesn't show it. The 2008 World Series MVP dropped two straight decisions despite permitting just two runs in each start before exiting his last outing against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday after taking a comebacker on his glove hand. Hamels has traditionally struggled against the Marlins, posting a 5-7 record overall, but he's 1-0 after yielding just three runs in a pair of starts spanning 14 innings against Florida this season.

After an abysmal start to the season, Volstad has collected a pair of wins after permitting just three runs in 13 2/3 innings. In his last outing, he yielded just one run in seven innings as the Marlins scratched out a rare win with a 5-4 triumph over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday. Volstad is just 2-4 in his career against the Phillies – with a brutal showing on June 14. The former first-round pick was battered for a season-high eight runs on 10 hits in 5 2/3 innings as Philadelphia cruised to a 9-1 victory.

ABOUT THE PHILLIES (54-32): Consider the plight of Vance Worley. After tossing seven scoreless innings on Monday, the 23-year-old hurler was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Such is life with the pitching-rich Phillies. He is expected to rejoin the big-league club after the All-Star break. After sitting out Monday's contest with a swollen thumb, outfielder Shane Victorino will once again play the role of the spectator on Tuesday. Although he didn't take the field, the Hawaiian took the lead in the "Final Vote" among five National Leaguers for the upcoming All-Star Game. Michael Martinez played in his place and plated Domonic Brown with a single to shallow left center in the seventh inning on Monday.

ABOUT THE MARLINS (38-47): Florida has mustered just 17 wins at home this season – only the woeful Houston Astros have less wins (14) in 2011. Emilio Bonifacio, who had one of his team's two hits before being ejected on Monday, is just 4-for-16 in his career against Hamels. Hanley Ramirez had the other hit, although he can't seem to solve the lefthander either. He is 12-for-47 in his career versus Hamels. Josh Johnson is dealing with right shoulder inflammation, but he hasn't thrown in the towel on this season. "Even if I come back for one start, I’m going to try and come back and throw one start,” Johnson said Monday.

FINAL PITCH: "I understand we all make mistakes, but throwing guys out of the game? I ain’t got enough players now. Used to be, they’d fine a guy. Now they’re all macho, want to throw every one out. ... Why do they have to be so macho? Have a little common sense, some technique." – Florida interim manager Jack McKeon, after third baseman Bonifacio and catcher John Buck were ejected in Monday's game.