Phillies bounced back yesterday with 4 home runs and a solid start from Zack Wheeler to beat the Marlins 7-1. Today, they will look to win the series against the Marlins with Vincent Velasquez on the mound at 1:05pm.

Velasquez was 7-8 with a 4.91 ERA last season and allowed 26 home runs. In five starts against the Marlins last season, Velasquez was 0-1 with a 7.06 ERA. For his career, Velasquez holds a 4-3 record with a 4.33 ERA against Miami.

Vinny is coming out of quarantine as a new pitcher. I’m getting tired of saying “this will be the year” for Velasquez, but watching him in the intersquad matches during Summer Camp 2.0, there is a noticeable change.

“The whole quarantine made me kind of realize that a lot of guys are geared up on my fastball with me being a power pitcher,” Velasquez said. “I need to learn how to locate something away from righties and in on lefties. I had a discussion with (assistant pitching coach David) Lundquist. I was like, ‘Hey man, how’d you throw your cutter? How’d you do this?’ I kind of picked his brain a little bit.”

Love the confidence. Now it’s time to see it in action. Velasquez will pitch against right-hander Jose Urena, who had started the previous two season openers. Urena had a 4-10 mark with a 5.21 ERA last season in 24 appearances, 13 of which were starts. Urena was placed on the injured list June 13, 2019, with a herniated disc in his back and finished the season in the bullpen. Urena is 3-5 with a 4.27 ERA over his career against the Phillies.

It would be nice to see the Phillies string together some hits today, specifically at the top of the order. Andrew McCutchen is hitless to start the season and Bryce Harper, with the exception of a bunt-single yesterday, is also hitless. Rhys Hoskins, who has been getting walked a ton, needs to get the bat moving as well.

Here’s some key betting advice from Bob Wankel over at Crossing Broad:

Betting notes for tomorrow.

The #Phillies are a -162 favorite in the series finale against the Marlins.

The Phils are 7-2 all-time when Vince Velasquez starts as at least a -160 favorite.

The Phils are also 8-4 in Velasquez’s day starts at home, including 4-1 since ‘17.

— Bob Wankel (@BobWankelCB) July 26, 2020

I’ll take…

Phillies ML -167.
Phillies -1.5 +120.
Phillies Over 4.5 Runs -138.