Miami, meanwhile, had just snapped a four-game skid the night before with an 8-7 comeback over these same Phillies, and Alcantara was walking into this one looking to build off that momentum rather than his rough last start against Houston, where he got tagged for 5 earned runs in 7 innings.
The Phillies came in as the better overall team by record, but form told a different story — 4 losses in their last 5, capped by that walk-off-style loss to Miami on Monday. The Marlins were scuffling too before their Monday win, dropping 4 straight to Houston and San Diego, so neither club rolled into Tuesday with much swagger.
Philadelphia's pitching depth is thinning fast, with Tanner Banks, Brad Keller and Lou Trivino all shelved and Rafael Marchan out behind the plate too. Miami's list is longer but mostly bullpen pieces working their way back, which meant neither team was operating at full strength heading into this one.
In the end it played out exactly like a game between two clubs stuck in neutral — low-scoring, tight, decided by a single run Miami plated early and made stand up. Nola avoided a total meltdown but the Phillies offense, without Schwarber, simply had nothing going, managing just 4 hits and zero runs against Alcantara and the Marlins staff.