Game of the Week: May 25: PHI @ MIA

[Commissioner Erick]

Philadelphia Phillies (27-21) @ Miami Marlins (9-38)


PHI: Mason Englert (1-2, 3.42)
MIA: Bryan Hoeing (2-6, 7.08)


Phillies 5 Key Stats:


5-8: Philadelphia’s record the last 13 games with Seth Beer injured with a sore wrist. Beer is expected to return today.

5.56: Philadelphia’s starting pitching ERA this season. Former Cy Young winner and long time stalwart Franklyn Kilome was traded earlier this year. They’ll start Mason Englert today, the only arm with an ERA under 5.

7: The total number of home runs Ryon Healy had hit since 2013 entering this year. He has six in 29 games this year.

73: The number of home runs Philadelphia has hit as a team this season, most in the NL despite injuries to Seth Beer and Mickey Moniak.

1.2: The WAR of Bobby Witt Jr. He has roughly the same WAR in 46 games this year as he had in 42 games his rookie year in 2024. He had a down 2025, but is back on the trajectory that made him a special prospect.


Marlins 5 Key Stats


.217: Miami’s team batting average this year.

30: David Garcia’s career RBI total in 252 career games.

.326: Christian Arroyo’s slugging percentage this year. That number would be just the second mark of his career below .379.

.144: Jesus Santana’s on-base percentage. Santana had a .259 mark as a full-time player in 2024. He spent most of his time in the minors last year, but has been in the majors and continuing to struggle in 2025.

10: Jo Adell’s home run total this season. In an ugly year, Adell has been a bright spot, on pace for his second-straight 30-homer season.


Questions for the GMs:


For Matt Grubs, How will your lineup change today with Seth Beer coming off the IL and Bradley Zimmer likely going on it?

Bryan Dimas couldn’t even start for Panama during the WBC, but he’s hit well for you with four homers and a .280 average in 81 Plate Appearances. What will his role be going forward?

Dave Simon has given up three home runs already in 17.2 innings, but has also issued just a 3.06 ERA. What have you thought about his season thus far?

For Steven Luker, your strategy appears to be to put out a great defense at the expense of offense and pitching. Do you feel that you may need to adjust that approach going forward?

With only one Catcher on the roster, David Garcia is constantly exhausted and unable to produce at the plate. Why haven’t you helped him out by playing a second Catcher?

You lost a lot of talent in the Rule V draft last year. What’s your strategy to recuperate some of the talent your franchise desperately needs?


TRIVIA: Who has the most hits in Miami Marlins history?

[Grubs - Philly]

Another great writeup, Erick. The new format is fun and probably more sustainable for you!

How will your lineup change today with Seth Beer coming off the IL and Bradley Zimmer likely going on it?

   There's not a whole lot of shuffling we can do, frankly. We really need his bat to come around and there's no reason to think it won't. He was scorching hot for Team USA and has shown as recently as 2024 that he can still produce with a bad BABIP. It feels a little like we've been asking too much of him at the top of our lineup. He's been unsettled and it shows. Unfortunately, it's at least another week until Maniac gets back and can solidify the leadoff spot. Andres Gimenez has been swinging a hot stick and provides another option if he keeps it up. In the meantime, we'll have Seth in the no. 2 spot against both righties and lefties, ahead of Witt. Beer's been far more productive there and we want him to feel like he can take a walk and still help us out. Hopefully that frees him up to be more selective with his pitches. Results will come, he just has to play his game and not try to swing his way out of a slump.

Bryan Dimas couldn’t even start for Panama during the WBC, but he’s hit well for you with four homers and a .280 average in 81 Plate Appearances. What will his role be going forward?

   Bryan was the last guy to make the major league squad this year, but we really like his approach to the game. He's one of those guys who doesn't try to do too much and lets the game come to him. He provides solid defense at the corners, even if he doesn't cover a ton of ground. The plan was to use him as a fifth outfielder, but the injuries to Mickey and Seth mean we've needed him to take the field every day as of late. He's getting comfortable in the field and at the plate, where some balls are falling in for him. He's been an important part of the team and while his option years are a big part of why we signed him this season, he's not going to need an apartment in Allentown anytime soon. 

Dave Simon has given up three home runs already in 17.2 innings, but has also issued just a 3.06 ERA. What have you thought about his season thus far?

    We're not thrilled with the homers, and neither is Dave, but he's converted 9/10 save opportunities, and has a 12-2 shutdown-to-meltdown mark. We can live with the homers as long as he continues to be productive. Maybe more importantly, Dave doesn't seem afraid of giving up the longball and is pitching more freely. His BABIP is down, which signals to us that he's using the strike zone more effectively instead of serving up mistakes that get hit hard. Part of it is the maturing process, and he's also been part of a bullpen that's grown together to become a tight unit – one that's kept us in a lot of ballgames as our rotation has struggled.

[Commissioner Erick]

Matt correctly guessed Wilmer Flores

[Commissioner Erick]

Marlins 7 - Phillies 6


WP: M. Miniard (3-1)
LP: D. Simon (1-1)

The Miami Marlins beat the Philadelphia Phillies, 7-6, at Marlins Park. Miami designated hitter Max Schrock had an outstanding performance. He went 2 for 5 with a double. He drove in 4 runs and scored once. The Marlins now have a record of 10-38.

The game was decided with two out in the bottom of the ninth. With Miami trailing 6-4, Schrock hit a curveball from Cole Ragans for a bases-clearing double. Just like that, the Marlins had a walk-off win.

"Win or lose, we pick each other up in this clubhouse," Schrock told the Miami News.


Questions for the GMs:


For Matt Grubs, how humiliated do you feel losing on a walk off to Miami?

Seth Beer was really struggling early in the year. How did he look in his first game off the IL?

This is yet another instance of Dave Simon blowing a spotlight game late, though in fairness, there was some bad luck with BABIP in there. How much do you trust him in a big game?

For Steven Luker, Micah Miniard now has 30% of your team's wins. How big has he been for you?

How were you able to stay in the game, staying close until Schrock's big hit late?

Hoeing wasn't sharp, and after the game, complained of shoulder irritation. Early indications are that he'll need to go on the IL. How will you manage his loss?


TRIVIA: Who has the most all-time losses in Philadelphia Phillies history?

[Grubs - Philly]

How humiliated do you feel losing on a walk off to Miami?

Not as humiliated as I feel losing three of four to them.

Seth Beer was really struggling early in the year. How did he look in his first game off the IL?

He's still looking for his power stroke, with just a pair of doubles in the past week, but balls are starting to fall in for him and he hasn't struck out more than once a game since he got back. He has 4 walks and 5 strikeouts and is hitting almost .400 over the last six games.

This is yet another instance of Dave Simon blowing a spotlight game late, though in fairness, there was some bad luck with BABIP in there. How much do you trust him in a big game?

You're being generous with "spotlight" game. While it's big for week-to-week PBA purposes, I don't think OOTP cares about it. But yeah, he got lit up. No homers, though. He only had one other short appearance in the week, which was a 2-pitch, flyball-inducing outing with a five-run lead. I'll watch him.

[Commissioner Erick]

Matt correctly guessed Thomas Eshelman