Blue Jays at Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies find themselves atop the National League East this "late" in the season for the first time since they won the division in 2011, and they can thank their stellar play at home for their accomplishment. A winner of an NL-best 19 home contests, Philadelphia (29-20) bids to continue that trend against former Phillie J.A. Happ and the visiting Toronto Blue Jays (24-28) on Sunday afternoon.
Aaron Nola took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning and Nick Williams belted his third pinch-hit homer of the season in the eighth in Saturday's 2-1 win for Philadelphia, which has alternated wins and losses over its last eight games on the heels of a 7-1 stretch. Maikel Franco has answered an 0-for-11 run by going 5-for-13 in his last four games, highlighted by his solo homer Saturday. Versatile Russell Martin, who made his first career start at shortstop, ended Nola's bid for a no-hitter with an RBI single in the seventh. The 35-year-old has answered an 0-for-14 stretch with a hit in three straight while plating a run in back-to-back contests for the Blue Jays, who have dropped 10 of their last 13.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, Sportsnet (Toronto), TVA Sports, NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays LH J.A. Happ (6-3, 3.97) vs. Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (4-2, 3.23)
Happ has dominated the team with which he spent parts of three seasons, posting a 4-0 career mark with a 1.11 ERA while limiting Philadelphia to a .174 batting average. The 35-year-old recorded his second straight victory on Tuesday after permitting two runs on three hits in seven innings of a 5-3 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels. Happ fanned just five batters in that contest but is averaging a career-high 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings this season.
Pivetta has answered a disastrous start on May 4 with three straight victories, highlighted by Monday's performance in which he scattered four hits over seven innings in a 3-0 triumph versus Atlanta. The 25-year-old British Columbia native has allowed just one run on 10 hits while striking out 25 batters against two walks during his winning streak. Pivetta, who will make his first career appearance versus Toronto, flustered current Blue Jays Curtis Granderson (0-for-4) and Yangervis Solarte (0-for-3) in a small sample size.
WALK-OFFS
1. Toronto CF Kevin Pillar has hits in back-to-back games after going 0-for-17 in his previous six contests.
2. Philadelphia RF Aaron Altherr is 0-for-7 with four strikeouts in his last three games.
3. Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson has four doubles and scored three runs during his five-game hitting streak.