(Sports Network) - Kyle Kendrick tries to keep Philadelphia atop the NL East standings this afternoon when the Phillies play the middle test of their three-game series with the Florida Marlins at Dolphin Stadium.

Kendrick is unbeaten in his last four starts and is 8-3 on the season with a 4.47 earned run average. Kendrick received a no-decision in his last start before the break against the Arizona Diamondbacks, as he surrendered four runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 6-5 win.

Kendrick, who is 5-1 in 10 road starts this season, has faced the Marlins twice in his young career, posting a 1-0 mark with a 2.57 ERA in those outings.

Florida will counter with 24-year-old lefty Scott Olsen, who is 5-4 this year with a 3.77 ERA. Olsen last pitched on July 9 when he defeated the San Diego Padres, allowing a run and four hits in eight innings.

Olsen lost to the Phillies back on June 12 and is 3-5 lifetime against them with a 5.33 ERA.

In the opener of this set on Friday, Ryan Howard continued to hit home runs in July, adding his ninth of the month as the Phillies eked out a 4-2 win. Geoff Jenkins added his eighth home run of the year and knocked in two runs while Chase Utley went 2-for-3 with an RBI to help Philadelphia win for the fifth time in six games and moved one game in front of the New York Mets in the NL East.

Jamie Moyer (9-6) shined once again at Dolphin Stadium, throwing six strong innings on just two runs and four hits. He struck out three and walked one to improve his record to 10-0 lifetime against Florida in 10 starts, including three wins this year.

Brad Lidge -- who received the loss for the National League in Tuesday's All- Star Game despite not having lost a game all season -- pitched a perfect ninth for his 21st save.

Ricky Nolasco (10-5) lost for the first time since June 5 and dropped a decision for the first time in three starts against the Phillies this season.

Philadelphia has won four of seven from Florida this season and holds a slight 13-12 edge in the last 25 matchups.