Braves at Phillies
The Atlanta Braves learned outfielder Nick Markakis will miss six weeks with a fractured wrist and shortstop Dansby Swanson is out with a bruised heel, but that hasn’t stopped them from a chance to sweep the Philadelphia Phillies in Sunday's finale of a three-game road series. Ozzie Albies hit a grand slam and recently promoted outfielder Adam Duvall homered as the Braves bashed the Phillies 15-7 Saturday, extending their lead over Washington to 6 1/2 games in the National League East.
The Braves have outscored Philadelphia 24-9 in the opening two games of the series to push third-place Philadelphia 7 1/2 games back in the division standings, as Duvall went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in his season debut and outfielder Ender Inciarte snapped an 0-for-11 streak since coming off the injured list with a homer and a single. First baseman Freddie Freeman recorded a career-high four walks as the Braves matched a season high in runs scored. The Phillies had no answer for the second night in a row while falling for the sixth time in their past eight games against Atlanta, getting a homer and two RBIs from catcher J.T. Realmuto, who has homered in two of his past three games. Infielder/outfielder Sean Rodriguez finished with three of Philadelphia’s 12 hits, but the Phillies are 4-of 17 with runners in scoring position through two games of the weekend set.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Kevin Gausman (3-5, 5.71 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (8-2, 3.64)
Gausman could not have authored a much better return from the injured list last Sunday against Washington, holding the Nationals to one run on five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in seven-plus innings in his first start since June 10. The 28-year-old, who had been sidelined for six weeks with plantar fasciitis, had allowed 19 runs on 25 hits in 8 1/3 innings total in his three final starts before hitting the injured list. Gausman made three starts against Philadelphia last season after Atlanta acquired him at the trade deadline, going 0-2 with a 5.51 ERA.
Nola has been outstanding in July, allowing one earned run or fewer in four of his first five starts and pitching to a 1.93 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 32 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old allowed two runs (one earned) with one walk and seven strikeouts in seven innings Tuesday at Detroit, five days after his one rough outing this month – four runs on five hits in five innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Some of Nola’s best work this season has come against the Braves, going 2-0 with a 2.95 ERA in three starts against Atlanta with 20 strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Phillies 1B Rhys Hoskins saw his four-game hitting streak end after going 0-for-4.
2. Atlanta OF Ronald Acuna Jr. extended the longest active on-base streak in the majors to 31 games with two hits - including his 25th homer of the season.
3. Philadelphia acquired INF/OF Jose Pirela from San Diego before Saturday’s game for cash, gaining a player that likely will stay in the minors until rosters expand on Sept. 1.