Since then, the Phils have gone 6-2 and picked up 4 games in the standings. And as luck would have it, the first-place Atlanta Braves are in Philly this weekend for THE BIGGEST SERIES OF THE SEASON SO FAR.
I apologize for shouting in all caps. But this is big. Really big. Sweep the Braves and the Phils are just 2 1/2 games out of first. Take 2 out of 3 and they pick up a game and are 4 1/2 out. Get swept? Back to borderline irrelevance and 8 1/2 games out.
Braves ace Mike Soroka goes against Jake Arrieta tonight. Soroka has been smacked around a bit in his last 7 starts, allowing 18 runs and 48 hits in just 37 innings. He gave up 4 runs and 9 hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Phils on July 4.
Saturday features Max Fried against Zach Eflin and Fried has also struggled in his last 7, giving up 20 runs and 45 hits in 37 2/3 innings. And the Phils will be wearing the ugly-in-the-dark all burgundy uniforms worn just once, back in 1979.
Sunday is Nola Day, with the Phillies ace facing Kevin Gausman, who has been torched for 26 runs and 45 hits in 33 inning with an ERA well over 6.
The Phils are getting the Braves at a really opportune time. The Phils are hot, the Braves have been mediocre of late. Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper are hot. Hoskins is hitting .429 with a 1.315 OPS in his last 3 games, while Harper has 10 RBI in his last 15 games.
I like the Phils chances to win at least 2 out of 3 this weekend. The Phils enter tonight with a 54-48 record. That's the same 102-game record they had in 1980 and in 2008. We know what those teams did. Yeah, I know it's a meaningless comparison, but I had to throw it out there.
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