Pirates at Phillies
Rhys Hoskins likely can't wait to turn the page on the calendar after adding yet another black mark to what has been a brutal month of August in his last contest. Hoskins hopes to halt his demoralizing stretch on Wednesday as the Philadelphia Phillies play the rubber match of their three-game series against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates.
Hoskins heard it from the Philly faithful after popping up with the bases loaded in the ninth on Monday and again the following night after allowing the winning run to score on the heels of failing to catch the return throw from Jean Segura for a potential inning-ending double play. The 26-year-old Hoskins also is just 10-for-83 at the plate with 24 strikeouts in August for the Phillies, who dropped a 5-4 decision on Tuesday to fall two games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second wild-card spot in the National League. Pittsburgh's Bryan Reynolds enters the series finale with multi-hit performances in four consecutive contests and a seven-game hitting streak after his two-run homer highlighted his three-hit performance on Tuesday. The 24-year-old is 8-for-24 against Philadelphia this season heading into his first career encounter versus right-hander Vince Velasquez.
TV: 6:05 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, NBCS Philadelphia
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Mitch Keller (1-2, 7.24 ERA) at Phillies RH Vince Velasquez (5-7, 4.93)
Keller recorded his best performance of his young career on Friday after allowing one run and striking out nine in six-plus innings of a no-decision against Cincinnati. The 23-year-old's lone blemish was a solo homer by celebrated rookie Aristides Aquino, marking the third time he's been taken deep after keeping the ball in the park in each of his three previous starts. Keller, who was selected in the second round of the 2014 draft, relied heavily on his slider versus the Reds and threw first-pitch strikes to 21 of the 24 batters he faced.
Velasquez let an early seven-run lead go by the boards in last start on Friday, surrendering a season-high seven runs in 2 1/3 innings of a no-decision at Miami. "I feel pretty embarrassed," the 27-year-old said. "I'm pretty embarrassed and disappointed and I take full responsibility for the whole outcome of the game." Starling Marte is 3-for-3 with a double versus Velasquez, who is 0-1 with a 7.15 ERA and 1.76 WHIP in two career starts against Pittsburgh.
WALK-OFFS
1. Marte, who is riding a six-game hitting streak, has seven hits in the season series against Philadelphia.
2. Like Hoskins, Phillies 3B Sean Rodriguez was also booed by the home crowd after he labeled the fans as "entitled" following his game-winning homer in the 11th inning on Monday.
3. Pirates 3B Jose Osuna has five hits and four runs scored in his last four games.