Phillies at Braves
Philadelphia Phillies manager Gabe Kapler plans to lighten the load of the starting rotation by leaning heavily on his relievers this season. After seeing his bullpen implode on Opening Day, Kapler will hand the ball to right-hander Nick Pivetta on Friday in a bid to even the three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at SunTrust Park.
Freddie Freeman opened the floodgates with a two-run homer, Ozhaino Albies added a solo shot and Nick Markakis provided the final salvo with a walk-off, three-run blast in the ninth inning of Atlanta's 8-5 triumph on Thursday. Freeman belted 28 homers during an injury-ravaged campaign in 2017 for the Braves, who were battered to the tune of a 6-13 mark versus the Phillies last season. Philadelphia appeared poised to continue its mastery of its National League East rival as Cesar Hernandez homered in his second straight Opening Day appearance, but Kapler raised eyebrows by lifting starter Aaron Nola in the bottom of the sixth inning after just 68 pitches with a commanding 5-0 lead. The new manager also caused a stir by leaving Odubel Herrera out of the starting lineup for what he deemed as a matchup-based decision, but the latter is expected to draw in on Friday and face Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz.
TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia-Plus, FS South (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (2017: 8-10, 6.02 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (2017: 10-13, 4.79)
Pivetta took his lumps last season with 25 homers and 144 hits allowed in 133.0 innings while seeing his WHIP climb to a gaudy 1.51. A postive for the 25-year-old British Columbian came in the form of his 140 strikeouts, with 13 coming as he limited the Braves to a .226 batting average en route to winning all three of his starts versus the club last season. Two of the starts were played in Atlanta, including a six-inning scoreless stint in his penultimate outing of the campaign.
Foltynewicz is hoping his strong spring washes the taste out of his mouth after he posted a 6.34 ERA following the All-Star break in 2017. The 26-year-old spent the offseason focusing his attention on his mechanics and pitched exclusively out of the stretch in the spring. Foltynewicz split a pair of outings against the Phillies last season and owns a 3-2 mark in seven career encounters, with Maikel Franco (.333) and Herrera (.313) faring well against him while going deep on one occasion.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia optioned 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner RHP Jake Arrieta to Advanced Class-A Clearwater on Thursday as he continues to round into shape for his expected first appearance on April 8.
2. Braves CF Ender Inciarte, who is 4-for-7 in his career versus Pivetta, batted .354 against the Phillies last season.
3. Atlanta's Kurt Suzuki is expected to get the start on Friday after relieving fellow C Tyler Flowers, who exited the season opener with left oblique discomfort.