Phillies at Rockies
Versatile Scott Kingery is making the most of his increased playing time with Jean Segura nursing a strained left hamstring. After belting a homer in back-to-back contests, Kingery will look to take his red-hot bat on the road Thursday as the Philadelphia Phillies begin a seven-game trek with the opener of a four-game series against the Colorado Rockies.
Kingery followed up his three-hit, five-RBI performance in Tuesday's 14-3 romp over the New York Mets with an opposite-field homer the following day as Philadelphia secured a series win with a 3-2 victory. The 24-year-old is a staggering 12-for-21 at the plate since April 8 for the Phillies, who have won four of their last six. Colorado has turned the tables following a demoralizing 1-12 stretch by outscoring the opposition 17-4 during its three-game winning streak. "We're playing good baseball right now. We just have to keep it up," said four-time All-Star Nolan Arenado, who celebrated his 28th birthday in style by going deep for the third straight game during Tuesday's 8-2 win at San Diego.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, NBCS Philadelphia-Plus, AT&T SportsNet-Rocky Mountains (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Zach Eflin (2-1, 3.94 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Kyle Freeman (1-3, 5.40)
Eflin answered a pair of sterling starts with a disastrous one on Saturday, surrendering six runs on 10 hits -- including three homers -- in four innings of a 10-3 setback at Miami. The 25-year-old has been taken deep twice among the four hits collected by Charlie Blackmon in his career, although the rest of the current crop of Rockies are 6-for-30 against the hurler. Eflin owns a 1-2 mark with a bloated 9.20 ERA and 1.98 WHIP in three career outings against Colorado after permitting 15 runs in 14 2/3 innings.
Freeland lost his third straight start after allowing three runs on nine hits in five innings before exiting with a blister on the middle finger of his left hand. The 25-year-old Denver native has been taken deep in three of four outings while yielding 10 walks in 21 2/3 innings ahead of facing a patient Phillies' lineup. Freeman made one brief appearance versus Philadelphia in his career but has squared off against Andrew McCutchen, who is 4-for-17 with five strikeouts against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Colorado SS Trevor Story is 4-for-18 at home this season, although three of those hits have left Coors Field.
2. The Phillies tabbed Jerad Eickhoff to start the series finale versus the Rockies after fellow RHP Nick Pivetta was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday.
3. Blackmon is just 4-for-33 with seven strikeouts in his last seven games.