Phillies at Brewers
Andrew McCutchen is playing a big role during the latest surge by the National League East-leading Philadelphia Phillies and the veteran outfielder hopes to lead them to a three-game sweep Sunday against the host Milwaukee Brewers. McCutchen, the 2013 NL MVP, is 12-for-29 with a pair of homers and nine RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak after belting a solo shot in Saturday’s 7-2 victory.
McCutchen has plenty of teammates who are swinging hot bats to help the Phillies win seven of their last nine as Jean Segura is riding a 16-game hitting streak (23-for-67) and Rhys Hoskins is 7-for-14 with two blasts and five RBIs in the past four contests. Zach Eflin will try to avenge his only loss in the last month when he takes the ball in the series finale for Philadelphia and faces fellow right-hander Brandon Woodruff, who allowed one hit over six scoreless innings to beat the Phillies last week. The Brewers are scuffling again with two wins in their last seven games after managing five hits in Saturday's loss, but infielder Mike Moustakas remained hot with a single and a solo homer to improve to 6-for-12 with two longballs in the last three contests. Reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich is 3-for-18 in his last five games for Milwaukee, but two of those hits were homers to give him a major league-leading 20.
TV: 2:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network; NBCS Philadelphia, FS Wisconsin, WYTU (Milwaukee)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Zach Eflin (5-4, 2.76 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Brandon Woodruff (6-1, 3.51)
Eflin posted his fourth quality start in five outings Tuesday when he limited the Chicago Cubs to one run on six hits and four walks over six innings in a no-decision. The 25-year-old Floridian has not given up more than three runs in seven of his 10 starts overall, but is 2-3 in six road turns. Yelich (1-for-9) and Yasmani Grandal (2-for-9, two home runs) have each gone deep versus Eflin, who gave up four runs over five innings in the loss to Milwaukee last week.
Woodruff has strung together five consecutive wins in his last seven trips to the mound and yielded two or fewer runs in six of those starts - including five straight. The 26-year-old Mississippi State product did not get a decision in his last start May 19 when he held Atlanta to two runs across a season-high eight innings. McCutchen (1-for-6) owns a homer against Woodruff, who has not permitted an earned run in 10 career innings versus the Phillies.
WALK-OFFS
1. Milwaukee OF Ryan Braun was 0-for-2 on Saturday, but is batting .384 with 25 homers and 73 RBIs in 78 career games against the Phillies.
2. Philadelphia CF Odubel Herrera had two hits and a walk Saturday after going 1-for-24 in his previous 11 games.
3. The Brewers are 26-0 when they take a lead into the eighth inning this season, but their bullpen ERA is 4.34 overall.