Brewers at Phillies
The Milwaukee Brewers own the best record in the National League but they will be hoping to avoid matching their longest losing streak of the season when they open a three-game series at the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night. Milwaukee is 1-4 on its eight-game road trip, losing a pair of interleague series to the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians.
The Brewers have scored only four runs during their three-game slide and have scored more than three runs once in their last seven contests as their lead in the NL Central has dwindled to a half-game over the Chicago Cubs. Lorenzo Cain was 4-for-8 in the two losses to Cleveland but Domingo Santana, who swatted 30 homers last year, has not gone deep since May 21. The Phillies also have struggled this month, losing five of six to wrap up a 3-7 road trip, but they are 19-9 at Citizens Bank Park as they open a six-game homestand. "This was not our best road trip, obviously, but we proved we could go toe to toe with the best teams in the National League,” Philadelphia manager Gabe Kapler said after Thursday's 4-3 setback to the Cubs.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Jhoulys Chacín (4-1, 3.39 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (4-6, 3.82)
Chacin has not lost in more than two months, improving to 4-0 over his last 11 starts after allowing three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings at the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. He has permitted two runs or fewer in eight of his last 10 turns while surrendering two home runs during the unbeaten streak. Chacin has made eight appearances versus the Phillies, posting a 3-1 mark and 2.13 ERA.
Velasquez, who turned 26 Thursday, is winless in his past three outings despite allowing a combined four earned runs and was a hard-luck loser last time out after striking out nine and holding San Francisco to one run over 6 1/3 innings. It marked the sixth straight start in which he has yielded three runs or fewer. Velasquez's ERA is more than 2 1/2 runs higher at home (5.40) than on the road (2.79).
WALK-OFFS
1. Phillies CF Odubel Herrera has hit safely in four straight games and is 5-for-17 with two walks during the stretch.
2. Brewers OF Christian Yelich had four homers and 13 RBIs in 18 games versus Philadelphia in 2017.
3. Philadelphia SS Scott Kingery had a two-run double Thursday, ending an 16-game RBI drought.