Diamondbacks at Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies aim to hand Arizona its first series loss of 2018 on Thursday afternoon, one day removed from snapping an eight-game home losing streak to the Diamondbacks. Arizona (16-7) put itself in the equation to win its eighth straight series by doubling up Philadelphia (15-8) in Tuesday's opener before Aaron Altherr helped level the set with a go-ahead three-run homer the following night.
Cesar Hernandez, who has five multi-hit performances in his last eight games, collected three hits to improve to 5-for-8 with three runs scored in the series. The 27-year-old Venezuelan is 16-for-43 at Citizens Bank Park this season for the Phillies, who improved to 5-1 on their 10-game homestand and 10-2 overall in the City of Brotherly Love. Arizona felt the love by outscoring the hosts 45-18 in the previous eight encounters before mustering just five hits to suffer its first loss in Philadelphia since May 17, 2015. A.J. Pollock had one of the hits to improve to 8-for-24 with two homers, five RBIs and as many runs scored during his six-game hitting streak, although he'll get his first look at Thursday starter Ben Lively.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, Facebook Watch
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Matt Koch (0-0, 1.13 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Ben Lively (0-1, 4.64)
Koch distinguished himself after being recalled from Triple-A Reno by allowing just one run - albeit a mammoth 489-foot homer by Franchy Cordero - on two hits in six innings of a no-decision versus San Diego on Friday. "I thought Matt Koch threw the ball extremely well," manager Torey Lovullo said of the 27-year-old. "... He was mixing his pitches. When you're walking a young pitcher into that kind of environment and he goes out there with that great mound presence and executes, it's definitely noticed and he did a great job." Koch, who is filling the rotation spot of Taijuan Walker (Tommy John surgery), is slated to make his first appearance versus Philadelphia on Thursday in his fourth career start and 11th overall game.
Lively received his third straight no-decision despite yielding one run on five hits in six innings against Pittsburgh on Friday. The 26-year-old credited a text from his grandfather, who implored him to slow everything down for his strong performance versus the Pirates. Paul Goldschmidt, Jake Lamb and Chris Owings have each homered against Lively, who is 0-1 versus the Diamondbacks with eight runs and 15 hits allowed over two starts (11 1/3 innings)
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia CF Odubel Herrera has reached safely in a career-high 25 consecutive games.
2. Arizona SS Ketel Marte has four hits in his last three contests after going 1-for-19 in his previous five.
3. Phillies LF Rhys Hoskins has hit safely in four straight games and 10 of his last 11.