Braves at Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies host the Atlanta Braves in the opener of a three-game series Monday, an interesting matchup of two rebuilding teams that have accelerated their timetable with strong starts in 2018. The first-place Braves lead the Phillies by 1 1/2 games in the National League East, and while division titles are not won in May, the way both teams have pitched this season is a big reason why they could contend deep into the summer.
One season after the Phillies finished 18th in the majors in ERA (4.55) and the Braves were 24th (4.72), both teams are ranked in the top 10 - Atlanta sixth at 3.51 and Philadelphia eighth at 3.56. The Braves got an uncharacteristic poor pitching performance from Julio Teheran before a six-run ninth capped a frantic 10-9 victory at home against Miami on Sunday, but their rotation is 19-8 on the season while the bullpen has vastly improved after a poor start - a big reason why Atlanta is 21-1 when leading after six innings. The Phillies, who lost 5-1 on Sunday at St. Louis, have experienced similar success as their starters have posted 17-12 record while their bullpen sports a 3.77 ERA. Philadelphia's Aaron Nola, who pitched Sunday, has established himself as one of the top starters in the NL and veteran Jake Arrieta sports a 2.82 ERA while giving the Phillies a key veteran presence in the rotation.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Southeast (Atlanta), NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (3-2, 2.87 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (3-2, 3.72)
Foltynewicz walked a season-high five hitters in his last start, a no-decision on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, but struck out a season-high 10 while limiting the damage to one unearned run. The 26-year-old has not allowed an earned run in his past two starts, giving up six hits across 10 innings. Foltynewicz makes his 10th start of the season and his fourth against Philadelphia, going 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 17 innings in the first three.
Pivetta gave up just two hits over seven innings with one run allowed and a career high-tying 11 strikeouts in a victory at Baltimore on Wednesday. The 25-year-old faces Atlanta for the fourth time this season, having allowed eight runs in 14 innings while going 0-1 with a 1.50 WHIP in the first three. Since allowing six runs in one inning against Washington on May 4, Pivetta has given up just one run on six hits with 18 strikeouts in his past two starts (12 innings).
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta CF Ender Inciarte, winner of two consecutive Gold Gloves, left Sunday’s game after six innings following a hard crash into the outfield wall two frames earlier.
2. Phillies CF Odubel Herrera’s streak of reaching base safely ended at 45 consecutive games Sunday despite making it to first on a dropped third strike in the ninth inning, which does not extend the run.
3. The Braves and Phillies will not meet after this series until Sept. 20, then the two teams will play seven times in the season’s final 11 days.