Phillies at Braves
The Philadelphia Phillies were expected to parlay a busy offseason into a modest improvement in 2018, not exactly a massive accomplishment given that they won just 66 games last season. Although the calendar reads mid-April, the Phillies (10-6) have won seven of eight to ascend into sole possession of second place in the National League East heading into Wednesday's series finale against the host Atlanta Braves.
Rhys Hoskins and Maikel Franco each had a two-run double with two outs in the 10th inning of Tuesday's 5-1 victory for Philadelphia, with the former going 7-for-16 with one homer and five RBIs in five encounters with Atlanta this season. Hoskins' 16 hits have him tied for second on the team with Cesar Hernandez, who has walked a club-best 15 times - including twice on Tuesday - to raise his on-base percentage to .443. Ender Inciarte had three hits on Tuesday and scored a run for the second straight contest for the Braves (9-7), who saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Inciarte is 9-for-24 with five RBIs and four runs scored in five contests versus Philadelphia this season, as opposed to 5-for-41 with 10 strikeouts in the other 11 games.
TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (1-1, 3.52 ERA) vs. Braves RH Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 3.31)
Velasquez's season began on a rocky note in Atlanta, which erupted for seven runs on nine hits in 2 2/3 innings of a 15-2 shellacking on March 31. The 25-year-old has pitched significantly better in his last two outings, permitting one run on four hits in both to pick up the win versus Miami on April 7 before settling for a no-decision six days later at Tampa Bay. Velasquez has struck out 13 against two walks in his last two trips to the mound overall, but owns an 0-2 mark in five career games against Atlanta while allowing the club to bat .363 versus him.
McCarthy benefited from Atlanta's offensive uprising versus Velasquez to walk away with the victory in his Braves' debut, although the 34-year-old described his performance as "rocky" after allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings. He won his next start and was in good shape last Wednesday before grabbing his non-throwing shoulder after reaching back for a throw at first base. McCarthy exited with a partial dislocation and even had salt rubbed in the wound via social media from his wife, but proclaimed himself no worse for wear to start against the Phillies.
WALK-OFFS
1. Atlanta 1B Freddie Freeman is 0-for-6 with two strikeouts in this series after going 3-for-9 with a homer, four RBIs and five runs scored in the first set versus Philadelphia.
2. Phillies CF Odubel Herrera has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games.
3. Braves RF Nick Markakis is 0-for-7 in this series and gone hitless in four of his last six games.