Embed from Getty Imageswindow.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:’F78kkTuVTZ1NF4Uf1b_t3g’,sig:’AnSgL1nZ9XhLPMcgY7FeeKXfOO72V4eTmnWUJA3qU3o=’,w:’594px’,h:’396px’,items:’959291440′,caption: true ,tld:’com’,is360: false })});
The Cardinals are going back home to face the Phillies after a victory today in Minnesota
The Phillies managed to play in Baltimore today despite a threat of rain and the washout from last night that will be made up on July 12th. More than play today in Balto, the Phillies managed to win their 24th game of the year and improved their road record to 8-10 by a score of 4-1 this afternoon.
Nick Pivetta improved to 3-2 on the year and his ERA is now 3.72 – he also struck out 11 batters on the day so it was a very good outing for him. The bullpen did have a test late in the game, the Orioles had the bases loaded but the relievers managed to curtain the Orioles two good hitters in Adam Jones, and Manny Machado who both came up to bat when the bases were loaded.
The Phils now travel onto an important test in St. Louis, perhaps the most important series of this year so far, that just past the 1/4 pole of the season with the 40th game of the year. So this season that really seems to have been off to a slow start with bad weather through April has suddenly been moving on pretty fast.
Can the Phillies continue to win in a St. Louis vs. a more powerful opponent in the Cards? The Cardinals beat the Twins earlier today in Minnesota, they are 23-17 on the year. The Cards were on top of the NL Central for a good part of May, they were in first place in the NL Central as recent as the 12th of May but slipped in the past couple of days, the Pirates have surged back into first place as of the time this column is being written. So, the Cards are still very much a good team and it will be an important test for the Phils to see if they are for real.
The Phils will be pitching Velasquez, Arrieta, Eflin, and Nola in this series. All have done really well in their last starts. Arrieta had a lead in a game the Phillies should have closed the door on but didn’t, and that cost Arrieta and the team a valuable win. Let’s see if the Phils can continue to find ways to put runs on the board and keep winning.
Notes on the Cardinal series:
2 of the 4 game series with be played in the afternoon, on Saturday and Sunday
The Cardinals have a team BA of .228 (Phils .248) – though the Cards have 49 total HRs to the Phils 44 HR team total
Odubel Herrera still leads the NL in BA at .357 and extended his on base streak today in Baltimore with a hit
The Phillies come into the Cardinal series with a 24-16 record – just behind the Braves in the NL East
