Reds at Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies surpassed their sum total over their first six games of the season with a 20-run output this weekend, only to struggle with their offense in their failed bid for the series sweep. The Phillies look to regain their mojo on Monday when they open a three-game set against the visiting Cincinnati Reds, who mustered just one hit on Sunday.
Rhys Hoskins hasn't lost a step as he is 11-for-25 with six extra-base hits and seven RBIs in eight games, highlighted by a double to left-center field in the third inning of Sunday's 6-3 setback to Miami. Odubel Herrera has done well in his own right, collecting two hits and two runs scored in the series finale to give him seven hits and five runs in his last three games. Troublesome pitching has plagued Cincinnati (MLB-worst 6.13 ERA), although the club won four of six versus the Phillies last season - including two of three to win a series in Philadelphia for the first time since August 2006. The Reds enter the set on a sour note as third baseman Eugenio Suarez (team-leading two homers, seven RBIs) sustained a fractured right thumb after he was hit by a pitch in Sunday's 5-0 setback to Pittsburgh.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), NBCS Philadelphia Plus
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH Cody Reed (2017: 1-1, 5.09 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Ben Lively (0-1, 3.18)
Mother Nature brought an end to Reed's scheduled debut before it could begin on Tuesday, relegating him to tossing 89 pitches in a simulated-game performance with Triple-A Louisville. Speaking of Louisville, left-hander Brandon Finnegan is slated to make a rehab appearance with the Bats and soon could draw back in the rotation at the expense of the 24-year-old Reed. "I will just go out there and compete and hope for the best. I can only control what I can control. I can control the game (Monday). After that, it's not really in my hands."
Lively turned in a strong performance in his debut but saw his pitch count elevate before he departed after an RBI single by Travis d'Arnaud in the sixth inning, resulting in a 2-0 loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday. The performance was labeled as "exceptional" by manager Gabe Kapler, who also said the 26-year-old "showed that tremendous competitiveness." Lively will get his first look at the team that selected him in the fourth round of the 2013 draft.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia 3B Maikel Franco is 6-for-12 with two homers, 10 RBIs and four runs scored in his last three games after going 1-for-11 in his previous four.
2. Cincinnati 2B Scooter Gennett is 0-for-12 in his last three contests after hitting safely in his previous five.
3. Phillies SS J.P. Crawford is 0-for-16 with seven strikeouts in his last five games.