IT’S FINALLY OVER! The month of June is over and the Miami Marlins are looking like a team that is playing their best baseball. The Marlins ended the month of June with eight victories, with exactly half of them against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Marlins now sit only 3 games under .500 and can with a strong July, can position themselves to be a serious playoff threat.

Last night, the Marlins pulled out a close victory with a decent start from Mark Buehrle and a strong offensive showing from Giancarlo Stanton. The Marlins defeated Cole Hamels for the third time this season, and three out of their five wins have come against the left hander this season.

Get out the brooms, because the Miami Marlins are going for the sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Stadium: Marlins Park

Five-year Run PF*: N/A
Five-year HR PF*: N/A
Stadium Dimensions:
Left field line—340 ft.
Left-center field—384 ft.
Center field—416 ft.
Right-center field—392 ft.
Right field line—335 ft.

*Five-year regressed park factors provided by Patriot here

Blanton has struggled lately, but is coming off of a strong start, in which he allowed seven hits, two earned runs, two walks, one home run and struck out eight in seven innings Monday against the Pirates. He has allowed 17 home runs in 48 1/3 innings over a span of eight starts. Blanton has actually given up more home runs (18), then he has walked hitters (13) in his 2012 campaign. Blanton has a career 3.49 ERA in 61 innings vs the Fish. When Blanton last met the Marlins, he allowed two home runs in an otherwise solid start in which he struck out six Marlins and walked just on. With Blanton’s issues with the long ball, the Marlins lineup could be able to jump on him early.

Ricky Nolasco’s pitching in 2012 has been less then stellar. While he didn’t dominate, Nolasco was solid against the Cardinals in his last outing. The righty held St. Louis to just one unearned run on four hits over 6 2/3 innings. Nolasco did not earn a win as Heath Bell blew a four-run Marlins lead in the 9th inning. The loss was a very tough one for the Marlins. Nolasco owns a 6.75 ERA in his past three starts, going just 16 innings. Most of that damage was done against the Cardinals, when Nolasco surrendered nine runs in just 3 1/3 innings. Nolasco owns a career 3.67 ERA in 90.2 innings against the Phillies. When Nolasco starts now though, it is starting to feel like a liability for the Marlins.

Marlins Projected Lineup

Same lineup for the Marlins as the past couple of games, just Greg Dobbs will be starting in place of Gaby Sanchez. Justin Ruggiano continues to be the Marlins hottest hitter, and they will ride him until Emilio Bonifacio makes his return from the disabled list.

Prediction:

The Marlins will complete the sweep of the Phillies by winning this ballgame, 9-5. Neither pitcher will have a strong game, as both will struggle in giving up some runs. The Marlins will get the better of Blanton, as Stanton will go deep for the second straight game. Jose Reyes and Logan Morrison will also go deep for the Marlins. The Marlins will pull within two games of the .500 mark.