Braves at Phillies (Game 2)
The Philadelphia Phillies get an extra opportunity Wednesday to continue beating up on the Atlanta Braves as they host a doubleheader after Tuesday’s scheduled contest was postponed due to rain. The rainout provided the Braves a one-day reprieve to try and figure out some way to beat their National League East rivals, who have defeated Atlanta in all eight meetings at Citizens Bank Park this season and 12 of their 14 overall matchups.
Philadelphia rookie Rhys Hoskins saw his home-run streak snapped at five games in Monday’s series-opening 6-1 victory but provided a go-ahead RBI double. The top of the Phillies’ lineup has feasted on Atlanta pitching this year, as leadoff hitter Cesar Hernandez is batting .333 while Freddy Galvis owns a .321 average. Atlanta is a major league-worst 12-27 since reaching .500 on July 17, thanks to a pitching staff that has allowed 55 home runs and 152 walks while posting a 5.18 ERA in that stretch. Brandon Phillips enters the doubleheader one hit shy of 2,000 for his career and looks to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.
TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, FSN Southeast (Atlanta), CSN Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Julio Teheran (8-11, 4.90 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Mark Leiter Jr. (2-3, 3.86)
Once considered the ace of Atlanta’s rotation, Teheran seeks a strong finish to the most inconsistent season of his career. Two of his last three starts – both against Colorado – have provided glimmers of hope as the 26-year-old allowed only two runs and nine hits over 14 1/3 innings, but he surrendered four and eight versus the Reds in between those two outings. Teheran has struggled in two starts against the Phillies this season, losing both while allowing 13 runs and 14 hits in 9 2/3 frames.
Leiter carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning in his last start and exited with five strikeouts and one hit allowed in seven scoreless innings Sunday against Miami. He struggled in his previous outing eight days earlier, allowing eight runs - four earned - and seven hits across five frames in a loss at San Diego. The 26-year-old Leiter has bounced between the rotation and the bullpen, posting a 3.18 ERA in five starts compared to a 4.50 ERA in 16 relief appearances.
WALK-OFFS
1. Braves CF Ender Inciarte has hit safely in 25 of his last 30 games, and his 164 hits this season ranked third in the majors entering Tuesday’s action.
2. Atlanta SS Dansby Swanson is batting .367 over his last 17 contests.
3. Hoskins drove in his 25th run of the season in his 19th career game on Monday, the second-fewest amount of contests needed to reach 25 RBIs among players making their debut since the statistic became official in 1920.