Ricky Nolasco is setting things up for yet another strong second half run on the mound, and he continues his winning ways Friday when the Marlins host the Phillies.
Cole Hamels has yet to win a game on the road against the Marlins in his career going 0-4. He has had a meltdown in his last four starts, three against the not-so-potent offenses of the Braves, Reds and Pirates.
Hamels has allowed 17 earned runs in his last four starts. He also has a 6.34 ERA when pitching on the highway this season; allowing 27 earned runs in 38.1 innings of work.
Ricky Nolasco takes the hill for the Marlins. He has pitched five quality starts out of his last seven appearances. He also has allowed just four earned runs in his last four starts at home. The young hurler has a 90/20 strikeout-to-walk ratio on the season.
He has had his ups and downs in the first half of the season with starts on the both ends of the spectrum, from being unhittable to getting pounded. If you remember, Nolasco was a gem down the stretch during the second half of last season with 12 quality starts in a row from July until the close of the season. The young pitcher has the talent to do it again and we may start to see Nolasco is a second half of the year guy.
The Marlins are 4-2 in Nolasco's six starts vs. Philly in his career. We'll take the solid pup value with Florida this evening who is two games above .500 and very much alive for a playoff spot coming into the second half of the season.
Free Pick: Marlins +110