The Phillies return home for a three game series against the Florida Marlins Monday one game closer first place. After taking two of three from the New York Mets this weekend, the Fightin Phils look to build on that momentum and start their final push for the playoffs. They begin Monday night with Joe Blanton (6-12, 4.79) on the mound against Anibal Sanchez (2-3, 5.54). Sanchez is coming off the shortest start of his career in which he went three innings, giving up six runs on right hits against the Atlanta Braves. His last time out against the Phillies he went five innings and gave up four runs. Blanton is also coming off a rocky start, giving up four runs on six hits in just four innings against the Washington Nationals. Billed as an innings eater when he came east from the Oakland Athletics, Blanton has last seven innings twice as a Phillie. He has just one win since coming to Philadelphia, although to be fair he has yet to record a loss. He has never faced the Marlins in his career. Chris Volstad (4-3, 3.32) will take the mound for the Marlins on Tuesday. His last time out against the Phillies, the 21-year old rookie threw six shutout innings on his way to the victory. He has logged 62 1/3 big league innings this year, the most of his career. Combined with 91 innings pitched in the minors this season, and Volstad has thrown a total of 153 1/3 innings, uncharterd territory for the young hurler. Volstad's opponent on Tuesday is yet to be determined. Kyle Kendrick and J.A. Happ are the two likely candidates, although Kendrick has not faired well at all against the Marlins this season. In two outings Kendrick has a 6.10 ERA, including one game in which he gave up seven runs in just over four innings. He has a 9.14 ERA in his previous five starts. Happ has never faced the Marlins, and has pitched well in his abbreviated time in the big leagues this year, with a 3.27 ERA in two outings. Wednesday's series finale pits Brett Myers (9-10, 4.19) against Ricky Nolasco (13-7, 3.56). Nolasco allowed just one run through seven innings on Friday against the St. Louis Cardinals while striking out four and not issuing a walk. Opponents are batting just .240 against him this season as he continues to be another shining young pitcher for the Marlins. If Nolasco is shining, then Myers is emitting blinding light. Since returning from a three week stint in the minor leagues this season, Myers is 6-1 with a 1.55 ERA. He is second to the Milwaukee Brewers' CC Sabathia in ERA and wins since July. Myers continued his dominance on Friday against the Mets, throwing eight shutout innings. This series, as is every series and every game from here on out, the most important of the season. The Mets face a tougher schedule this month than the Phillies do and have two off days this week, giving the Phillies a prime opportunity to erase that two game lead for first place. The Phillies need to do what they couldn't do last week, which is put away teams that are worse than them, namely the Marlins, the Nationals, and the Braves. If they beat the weaker teams, it takes off some of the pressure when playing the elite teams in the National League, such as the Brewers, who the Phillies face later this week. By putting away those inferior teams, competing with the better teams, and a little luck, the Phillies could very well be playing in October.