Astros at Phillies
Two teams heading in opposite directions meet when the Houston Astros visit the Philadelphia Phillies in the finale of a brief two-game set. Philadelphia has won three of four since manager Charlie Manuel’s team meeting last Wednesday, while the Astros have lost six of eight after winning five straight.
Hunter Pence is batting just .111 (3-for-27) over his last seven games, but the Phillies have received an unexpected spark from second baseman Freddy Galvis. The rookie had three hits in Monday’s 5-1 win, and he’s batting .381 (8-for-21) with seven RBIs in his last seven games. Houston’s recent slide has coincided with outfielder J.D. Martinez’s lingering slump. Martinez is mired in a 1-for-35 skid, dropping his batting average from .313 on April 25 to .221. Manager Brad Mills has rested him over the past week, giving him just five at-bats in the last six days.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS Houston (Houston), CSN (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Astros RH Jordan Lyles (0-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cliff Lee (0-1, 2.17 ERA)
Lyles is expected to get the start as the Astros look to replace injured Kyle Weiland in the rotation. Lyles is 5-0 with a 3.49 ERA and just eight walks in 38 2/3 innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City. He threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings for the RedHawks last Thursday, striking out six and walking one.
In his first start since coming off the disabled list, Lee allowed two runs over six innings last Wednesday against the Mets. The Phillies limited him to 84 pitches, but he’s expected to throw between 85 and 100 pitches against Houston. Lee is 1-2 with a 6.89 ERA in three career starts against the Astros.
WALK-OFFS
1. Placido Polanco became the 17th active major leaguer with 2,000 hits with his two-run homer on Monday.
2. Carlos Lee has nine home runs and 24 RBIs in 26 career games at Citizens Bank Park.
3. The Astros have scored just 13 runs in their last eight games.