White Sox at Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies can close out a nine-game homestand on a positive note when they wrap up a three-game set against the skidding Chicago White Sox on Sunday afternoon. After rebounding from a 15-inning marathon loss on Friday night, the Phillies vie for back-to-back series wins as they continue their bid for a wild-card slot.
Philadelphia scratched out only four hits Saturday but two of them left the park in the 3-2 victory that evened its record at 4-4 on the homestand. Bryce Harper broke out of a 2-for-20 funk with a solo homer and Rhys Hoskins followed with his third blast in six games to pull the Phillies into a tie with Washington for the second wild card. Jon Jay had an RBI double to improve to 9-for-20 during a five-game hitting streak for Chicago, which has lost 17 of 22. The White Sox continue to struggle on offense, failing to produce more than two runs in eight of their last 11 contests.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Chicago, NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: White Sox RH Reynaldo López (5-9, 5.43 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Drew Smyly (2-5, 6.85)
Even though his string of quality starts ended at three Tuesday, Lopez still turned in a solid performance by limiting the New York Mets to two runs and six hits over 5 1/3 innings. In his four outings since the All-Star break, the 25-year-old Dominican is 1-1 with a 2.05 ERA while notching 31 strikeouts versus eight walks over 26 1/3 innings. Corey Dickerson is hitless in eight at-bats against Lopez, who has yielded nine earned runs in his last five road starts.
The Phillies were desperate to add an arm to their rotation when they signed Smyly, and he has provided a return beyond their expectations in his first two starts. The 30-year-old had been designated for assignment by Texas after posting a 1-5 record and bloated 8.42 ERA, but he has permitted only one run over 13 innings with Philadelphia after blanking San Francisco on four hits over seven frames on Tuesday. Jose Abreu (6-for-9) and James McCann (5-for-8) have tormented Smyly.
WALK-OFFS
1. Phillies 3B Maikel Franco is 6-for-34 with zero extra-base hits over the past nine games.
2. White Sox RHP Carson Fulmer went on the injured list after suffering a hamstring strain in Friday's game.
3. Phillies closer Hector Neris will be available Sunday after serving his three-game suspension.