Diamondbacks at Phillies
Scott Kingery isn't holding back against his hometown team, as the Phoenix native has homered three times and driven in five runs during the first two contests of a three-game series versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. Kingery and the Philadelphia Phillies will vie for a series victory against the visiting Diamondbacks on Wednesday at Citizens Bank Park.
Kingery answered two solo blasts in Philadelphia's 13-8 setback in the series opener with a three-run missile in the second inning of Tuesday's 7-4 win. The 25-year-old has recorded four homers and eight RBIs over his last 24 plate appearance for the Phillies, who have won five of their last seven contests overall but just two of their last 12 home games against Arizona. Ketel Marte went deep in his third straight outing for the Diamondbacks, who were limited to that solo blast in the seventh inning after erupting for a franchise-best eight homers in the series opener. The 25-year-old Marte enters the finale on the strength of consecutive three-hit performances as well as a five-game hitting streak in which he has scored six times.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Merrill Kelly (6-6, 4.12 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Zach Eflin (6-5, 2.88)
Kelly answered a career-high 10-strikeout performance in a 7-1 romp over the New York Mets on June 2 by allowing one run on three hits in seven innings five nights later in an 8-2 victory at Toronto. The 30-year-old sports a 5-2 record with a 1.84 ERA in seven starts following an Arizona victory, as opposed to a 1-4 mark after a loss. Kelly, who will be facing Philadelphia for the first time, owns a 6.00 ERA in seven starts on the road this season as opposed to a 2.35 ERA at home.
Eflin pitched well in his return to the rotation on Friday after missing his previous start with mid-back tightness, yielding one earned run on four hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-2 victory versus Cincinnati. The 25-year-old has struggled with his control of late, allowing four walks in two of his last three starts after issuing nine free passes in his previous nine trips to the mound. The Diamondbacks' current roster is just 3-for-20 versus Eflin, who sports an 0-1 mark with a 3.86 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in two career starts against Arizona.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia 1B Rhys Hoskins is 7-for-15 with a homer, four RBIs and three runs scored during his four-game hitting streak.
2. Arizona SS Nick Ahmed has hit safely in four straight contests after going 1-for-17 in his previous five.
3. Phillies OF Nick Williams has struck out 10 times over his last 13 plate appearances.