Phillies at Cardinals
The Philadelphia Phillies seemingly have the National League Central’s number. The Phillies are 8-0 against the division and have outscored NL Central foes 40-16, which they’ll try to continue in the second contest of a four-game road series against the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday.
The Phillies have won three straight and seven of their last eight after a 6-2 win in Thursday’s series opener. Carlos Santana stayed red-hot with his fifth home run in his past eight games, and Odubel Herrera recorded his sixth multi-hit game in the past nine contests. The Cardinals have dropped three straight home games for the first time this season and six of nine overall. St. Louis’ bullpen faltered late in the series opener, allowing five runs in the eighth and ninth innings after giving up only 19 runs all season in those frames entering the game.
TV: 8:15 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (3-1, 2.59 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (4-1, 3.09)
Arrieta is winless in his last three outings, but the bullpen is to blame for the past two. The 2015 NL Cy Young Award winners has allowed one run in 13 1/3 innings across his last two starts and has five quality starts in seven outings this season. Arrieta is 8-4 with a 2.27 ERA in 17 starts against the Cardinals, but he’s just 2-3 with a 4.21 ERA in seven outings at Busch Stadium.
Wacha has allowed two runs or fewer in five straight starts, and he hasn’t lost since his season debut against the New York Mets on March 31. The 26-year-old hasn’t factored in the decision in his last three outings despite allowing only four earned runs over 16 1/3 innings. Wacha is 2-2 with a 4.40 ERA in five starts against the Phillies.
WALK-OFFS
1. Herrera has reached base in 43 consecutive games dating to last season - 13 shy of Mike Schmidt’s club record - and is 15-for-34 during an eight-game hitting streak against the Cardinals.
2. The Phillies have homered in 12 straight games, tied for the longest active streak in the majors, and have drawn at least one walk in 56 consecutive games dating to last season.
3. The Cardinals on Thursday transferred RH Adam Wainwright to the 60-day disabled list so they could recall C Steven Baron from Triple-A Memphis after C Carson Kelly landed on the 10-day DL with a strained hamstring.