After an off day on Monday, the Philadelphia Phillies (19-22) begin a six-game road trip starting against the Boston Red Sox (17-23) on Tuesday night at historic Fenway Park.
Two teams who were expected to be in the running for their respective divisional crowns have gotten off to tough starts.
However, the Phillies are turning it around. After winning their fourth consecutive series and seven of their last 10 games, they have climbed up to second place in the National League East, but still nine games out from the Atlanta Braves.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox are in the basement of the American League East. Injuries and lack of production have been the storyline early this season for Boston. Young budding star Roman Anthony was recently placed on the 10-day IL while ace Garrett Crochet is on the 15-day IL.
First Pitch Times: 6:45 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Tuesday, Game 1: RHP Zack Wheeler (1-0, 3.12 ERA) vs. TBA (Opener for RHP Brayan Bello (2-4, 7.44 ERA)
Wheeler has been solid since making his return from thoracic outlet syndrome over his first three starts of the season. He has allowed six earned runs in 17 ⅓ innings with 18 strikeouts to six walks.
In his last start against the Athletics, he surrendered a season-high three earned runs across 6 ⅓ innings turning in a second straight quality start in a 6-3 win for the Phillies.
It is unclear who the Red Sox will roll out as the opener, but Bello will follow. A former top pitching prospect for the Red Sox, the right-hander hasn’t quite panned out.
He is coming off his best season as a big leaguer where he posted a career-best 3.35 ERA in 28 starts with 124 strikeouts in 166 ⅔ innings pitched. However, this season, the 26-year-old has struggled giving up four earned runs or more in four of his six starts.
The righty is coming off his best outing of the season last time out at Detroit where he stifled the Tigers for seven innings allowing just one run while striking out seven.
Wednesday, Game 2: RHP Andrew Painter (1-4, 6.89 ERA) vs. RHP Sonny Gray (3-1, 3.54 ERA)
Painter is going through a rookie slump heading into the series and looks to bounce back after putting together his worst start of his young big league career. The righty was tagged for eight earned runs on seven hits in just 3 ⅔ innings against the Athletics. The highly touted rookie will need to get his fastball back on track which has been flat and hit around at the major league level which has led to some of his struggles.
Opposing the rookie will be the 14-year veteran in Gray. The 36-year-old is in his first season with the Red Sox after being traded from St. Louis in the offseason. The righty has been solid this season, allowing three earned runs or less in all but one of his six starts. He’s coming off five shutout innings against Detroit in his last start.
Thursday, Game 3: LHP Jesús Luzardo (3-3, 5.98 ERA) vs. LHP Ranger Suárez (2-2, 2.77 ERA)
Baseball has its own funny way of naturally setting up big storylines. The series finale will have just that.
Luzardo, who the Phillies traded for last season and extended this season essentially replaced the homegrown talent in Suarez in the rotation. Suarez went on to sign a lucrative five-year, $130 million deal with Boston.
Now, the two will face each other in a much anticipated matchup.
Luzardo has been bumpy to start the season. At times, he has been dominant. Other times, he has struggled, such as his last trip to the mound where he surrendered six earned runs in just three innings against Colorado.
Suarez had an injury scare in his last start on May 3 where he left the game after four innings due to hamstring soreness. The Red Sox skipped his next start and now is in line to pitch against his former team. On the season, Suarez has posted a 3.48 ERA at Fenway Park in four starts opposed to a sterling 1.96 ERA in three starts on the road.
The southpaw spent eight seasons with the Phillies posting a 3.38 ERA in 187 total appearances with 119 being starts and became a fan favorite due to his postseason performances and his ascension from a low cost international free agent signing to one of the most reliable pitchers for the club over his final four seasons.
Kyle Schwarber has been on a power surge, slugging five home runs over his last four games, including a two-homer game in the series finale win against Colorado on Sunday.
The slugging designated hitter is tied for the lead in MLB with his 16 home runs along with Aaron Judge.
Bryce Harper is having an impressive May. In 10 games, he is slashing .344/.447/.813 with a 1.260 OPS with four home runs and five RBIs.
The Red Sox have the fourth-lowest scoring offense in MLB this season averaging 3.9 runs per game.
Wilson Contreras leads the team with eight home runs and 23 RBIs on the season with an .846 OPS.
