Phillies at Cardinals
The Philadelphia Phillies have heated up, winning six of their last eight contests, and look to continue their surge against a vulnerable team on Monday when they begin a six-game road trip with the first of three contests against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Phillies used a five-run sixth inning to break open the game and post a 7-1 win over Washington on Sunday.
The victory concluded a 6-3 homestand for Philadelphia, which is scoring 5.21 runs per game - its highest mark since averaging 5.51 in 2007. Rhys Hoskins capped the big frame on Sunday with a two-run double that gave him 31 RBIs on the season and 11 during his seven-game streak. After winning the first three contests of their seven-game road trip, the Cardinals lost the final four - surrendering 25 runs in the process. St. Louis suffered a 13-5 setback against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday despite registering 12 hits - including nine by the first four batters in the lineup.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, NBCS Philadelphia, FS Midwest (St. Louis)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (1-1, 2.73 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH Miles Mikolas (3-2, 4.73)
Velasquez lasted only 3 2/3 innings against Detroit on Tuesday, throwing 99 pitches while yielding three runs on six hits and three walks to suffer his first loss of the season. The 26-year-old Californian had given up a total of five runs over 21 2/3 frames in his first four turns of the year. Velasquez has made three career starts versus St. Louis, going 1-1 with a 4.34 ERA.
Mikolas is coming off a bounce-back effort at Washington on Wednesday in which he allowed just one run and seven hits over six innings. The 30-year-old Floridian struggled against Cincinnati in his previous outing, surrendering four runs and six hits - three homers - over five frames en route to his first loss since his season debut in Milwaukee. Mikolas has yielded six runs on eight hits and three walks over six innings in one start and one relief appearance versus Philadelphia in his career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals SS Paul DeJong, who had his 11-game hitting streak snapped on Thursday, has gone 4-for-7 with a homer and two RBIs over his last two contests.
2. Philadelphia SS Jean Segura was hitless in five at-bats on Sunday after going 7-for-13 over his previous three contests, but has driven in a run in each of his last three games.
3. St. Louis optioned OF Justin Williams to Triple-A Memphis and sent RHP Carlos Martinez (shoulder) to Single-A Peoria for a rehab assignment.