Phillies at Braves
The Atlanta Braves’ offense is one of the biggest surprises so far in 2018, and as they look to win a second straight home game from the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, second baseman Ozzie Albies figures to be in the midst of the action again. The 21-year-old, who came into Monday leading the majors with 14 extra-base hits, singled twice and raced home with the go-ahead run on a shallow sacrifice fly in Monday’s 2-1 triumph.
Atlanta was held to just four hits in the opener - matching the second-lowest total by the Braves through 15 games - but made the most of that production as Albies raised his average to .328 on the season. The Phillies had won six games in a row entering the series but also were stifled offensively on a cold night, collecting just six hits. Center fielder Odubel Herrera belted his first homer of the season for Philadelphia’s lone run, finishing 2-for-4 to raise his career average against the Braves in Atlanta’s new SunTrust Park to .333 with three homers and seven RBIs in 13 games. Both the Braves and Phillies sit 9-6 on the season and are tied for second place in the National League East.
TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Nick Pivetta (1-0, 2.70 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (1-1, 2.93)
Pivetta makes his fourth start of the season and enters Tuesday with no walks and 16 strikeouts over 12 2/3 innings across his past two outings. He earned the victory on April 5 against Miami, recording 5 2/3 shutout innings with nine strikeouts, and six days later gave up two runs with seven strikeouts in seven innings against Cincinnati. The 25-year-old, who is holding right-handed hitters to a .182/.206/.242 slash line, allowed three runs over four innings against the Braves in his season debut March 30.
Foltynewicz took his first loss of the season in his last start Tuesday at Washington, giving up three runs (two earned) with two walks and three strikeouts over five innings. The 26-year-old, who went 10-13 with a 4.79 ERA a season ago after posting a 9-5 record with a 4.31 ERA in 2016, struck out seven Phillies in five innings in his season debut March 30. Foltynewicz beat the Nationals on April 4, striking out eight while allowing one run in 5 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Braves became the final team in the majors to earn a save this season Monday when RHP Arodys Vizcaino pitched a scoreless ninth.
2. Philadelphia starting pitchers continued their good work in the series opener as RHP Aaron Nola gave up two runs in six innings, giving the rotation a 2.94 ERA across the past 12 games.
3. Atlanta C Tyler Flowers (oblique), out since Opening Day, could be ready to rejoin the big league roster next week.