MLB Baseball
2026-07-27 - Philadelphia Phillies at Miami Marlins
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : Major League Baseball
Monday 27th July 2026 - Scheduled 6:40pm EST
11:40pm (British Time)
Preview
A 5.5 game gap has opened up at the top of the National League East and it is up to the Philadelphia Phillies (57-49) to find some consistency to try and close up to the Atlanta Braves again. They are also in the middle of a real fight to earn a Wild Card place with the Phillies under some pressure to avoid missing out on the post-season, which would be a big disappointment for the players and the fans.
They begin this series with the slumping Miami Marlins (52-54) with one of the top pitchers going to the mound, while the hosts have been beaten for a twelfth time in a row. This is the longest losing run the Marlins have had in the history of the team, which is a surprise considering how solid the 2026 outfit had looked compared with recent teams that have performed in this uniform.
It says something that the Marlins are still 'only' 3 games out of the Wild Card places despite that losing run, but they need something to turn things around.
Playing a Divisional rival who are also in the mix for Wild Card spots is an opportunity for the Marlins who will hand the ball to Tyler Phillips on Monday.
Tyler Phillips has a 2-5 record and 3.52 ERA in twenty-six appearances in 2026, but this is the eleventh start. Monday does represent a ninth straight start for Phillips who has a 2-4 record and 5.25 ERA in the previous eight, but who has also allowed four runs in his last 10 Innings thrown.
He may be perhaps used as an opener, but that is a decision for Miami to make on the day and it could come down to how Tyler Phillips is performing and so a pretty fluid decision. This is the third time Tyler Phillips will be facing the Philadelphia Phillies this season and he kept them scoreless in 3 Innings thrown out of the bullpen before being knocked around for eight runs in a start that lasted 4 Innings last month.
The Phillies are going to counter with Zack Wheeler who has a 10-2 record and 2.16 ERA in sixteen starts this season and is going to be a vital piece of the rotation through the rest of the regular season and, hopefully, as far as Philadelphia are concerned, into the Playoff.
He may have been in the Major Leagues a long time, but Zack Wheeler is on course to produce his best ever regular season ERA and he has bounced back from a rough opening to July to produce a 2-1 record and 1.35 ERA in his last three starts. Last time out he was given the decision loss in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but Wheeler had done his part by holding them to two runs in 7 Innings.
It was the Dodgers who gave Zack Wheeler a tough time in the City of Angels back in May, but the response has been solid with the pitcher allowing just three runs in four road starts since then. In that time has chewed through 26 Innings, while Zack Wheeler has allowed a single run from two starts against the Miami Marlins and completed 6 Innings both times.
Philadelphia have won five of the seven season meetings between these National League East rivals, although the most recent was won by the Miami Marlins.
Prediction
It has been a really difficult month for the Miami Marlins who have fallen behind in the race for the National League East and slipped out of the Wild Card places.
Twelve losses in a row have dented the confidence and it may be tough to snap that run against Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.
The Phillies had lost four in a row before salvaging a game against the New York Yankees, but the star pitcher on the mound can make things a bit more comfortable for them as they look to find some momentum ahead of the trade deadline.
The Pick :
Miami Marlins 2-6 Philadelphia Phillies
