The Philadelphia Phillies and Miami Marlins get Thursday off before their National League East showdown this weekend. The Phillies had won seven games consecutively before dropping the second game of a two-game set to the Blue Jays. The Marlins have taken a nose dive since trading away Luis Arraez, as management signaled to the players that they weren't interested in winning this season. They have lost five of six games since the move, including two losses to the equally abysmal Oakland Athletics. The Arraez trade may not be the last move from the Marlins. It is time to continue our MLB odds series with a Phillies-Marlins prediction, pick, and how-to-watch.

The starters haven't been announced yet for either team, but Ranger Suarez is in line to take the mound for the Phillies. A pitcher with seven starts and a 1.72 ERA would be any team's best option, but Spencer Turnbull is having a better season statistically. Suarez had a three-game stretch where he allowed zero earned runs in 22 innings, including a complete game against the Rockies. He has come back down to earth over his last two starts, but that was allowing four earned runs over 14 innings. Suarez has won six straight decisions, and the Phillies have won every start.

The Marlins starting pitching has been dreadful, and Trevor Rogers will try to slow down the Phillies in this game. Rogers allowed eight earned runs in 2 1/3 innings against the Oakland Athletics, an outing that won't give much hope in his abilities. Rogers owns a couple of good outings, but he is 0-5 with a 6.15 ERA. 

Here are the MLB Odds, courtesy of FanDuel. 

MLB Odds: Phillies-Marlins Odds

Philadelphia Phillies: -1.5 (-110)

Moneyline: -174

Miami Marlins: +1.5 (-110)

Moneyline: +146

Over: 7.5 (-105)

Under: 7.5 (-115)

How to Watch Phillies vs. Marlins

Time: 7:10 PM ET/4:10 PM PT

TV: Bally Sports Florida, MLB TV

Stream: fuboTV (Click for free trial)

Why The Phillies Will Cover The Spread/Win

The Philadelphia Phillies offense is clicking at a level that has led them to many playoff runs over the past few seasons. They have a whopping .358 on-base percentage and are averaging 6.8 runs/nine over their last ten games.

The Phillies' home-field advantage in the playoffs is second to none when they get going, but so far in 2024, they have been just as good on the road. Philadelphia owns an 11-5 road record, but their offense does take a bit of a hit away from Citizens Bank Park.

Why The Marlins Will Cover The Spread/Win

There is no way to sugarcoat it. The Marlins' chances of winning in this game are very slim. The odds reflect that, and if you don't want to pay for the juice Philadelphia offers, you can take the Marlins and hope they can find a way to win. The thing about baseball is that it's a long season, and there are some surprising victories throughout 162 games.

If you want one good stat, the Marlins offense has improved over the last ten games. They are batting .226 and averaging 4.1 runs/nine. Those numbers still aren't spectacular, but they are better than their total season averages.

Final Phillies-Marlins Prediction & Pick

The Marlins looked to finally be a contender in the National League when they made the playoffs last season, but this season has been a return to mediocrity. Ranger Suarez hit rock bottom in his recent start when he gave up eight earned runs to the Oakland Athletics. It will be a lot more difficult facing the red-hot Phillies lineup on Friday night, and the Marlins don't have much offense of their own to give Suarez any support. Take the Phillies to win big in this one.

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Final Phillies-Marlins Prediction & Pick: Phillies -1.5 (-110)