Diamondbacks at Phillies
The Arizona Diamondbacks began their 10-game road trip in impressive fashion, recording their fifth series sweep of the season primarily on the strength of a robust eight-run third inning. The Diamondbacks aim to ride that momentum into their next stop as they open a three-game set against the host Philadelphia Phillies on Monday night.
Arizona collected its sixth victory in eight outings with Sunday's 8-2 romp in Toronto, with Ketel Marte belting his career-high 15th homer and Carson Kelly also going deep in the lopsided inning. The 25-year-old Marte has hit safely in 14 of his last 16 games, belting six homers to go along with 14 RBIs and 15 runs scored in that stretch. While the Diamondbacks were successful in winning their fourth straight game, the Phillies saw their four-game winning streak come to a halt after Cincinnati scored three times in the seventh inning Sunday in a 4-3 decision. Bryce Harper, who was successful on one of two plays at the plate in the series finale, has scored four runs during his five-game hitting streak.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Taylor Clarke (1-2, 4.43 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jerad Eickhoff (3-3, 4.14)
Clarke answered a brutal outing in which he surrendered five runs in two innings by permitting three runs (two earned) on four hits over five frames in Tuesday's 9-0 setback versus the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 26-year-old will be making his fifth appearance in six outings on the road, where he has allowed the opposition to bat .262 against him. Clarke, who has yielded two earned runs or fewer in three of his four starts, initially was called up from Triple-A Reno to add depth to a tired Arizona bullpen.
Eickhoff answered a four-start winless stretch with a strong showing on Tuesday, allowing three runs on four hits in six innings of a 9-6 victory at San Diego. The 28-year-old continues to struggle with the home-run ball, surrendering 11 in his last five outings after keeping the ball in the park in each of his first five of the season. Nick Ahmed (3-for-4, homer) has fared well versus Eickhoff, who is 0-1 with a 3.24 ERA in three career starts against Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia SS Jean Segura is 7-for-20 with three RBIs and two runs scored in his last five games.
2. Ahmed's availability for the series opener is in jeopardy after he was removed from Sunday's contest in the third inning with a sore left foot.
3. Phillies OF Jay Bruce went 0-for-3 in the series finale after going 8-for-18 with four homers, 11 RBIs and six runs scored in his previous five games since being acquired from Seattle.