Atlanta @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( May 27, 2025 ) Atlanta 0, Philadelphia 2
The Philadelphia Phillies will need to wait a little longer in hopes of continuing their recent hot stretch.
After Wednesday's contest got postponed due to rain, the Phillies will be back on the field Thursday for a day-night doubleheader against the visiting Atlanta Braves.
Philadelphia has won 10 of its last 11 games, including a 2-0 victory in Tuesday's series opener. Ranger Suarez pitched six strong innings, and the Phillies would love to see a similar effort from Cristopher Sanchez (4-1, 3.17 ERA) in Thursday's afternoon affair.
Sanchez has allowed three runs or fewer in nine of his 10 starts this season. He is looking to improve upon poor career numbers against the Braves (0-3, 4.32 ERA), although he is facing them for the first time this season.
"That's a good lineup against left-handed pitching," Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson commented after Tuesday's win.
Sanchez will be opposed in this matchup by AJ Smith-Shawver (3-2, 3.67), who is looking to rebound from his worst start of 2025.
The right-hander allowed seven runs in three innings against the Washington Nationals last Thursday. Previously, he had given up just one earned run in 19 2/3 innings in his first three starts this month.
Smith-Shawver has yet to face the Phillies in the regular season.
The nightcap will feature an intriguing pitching matchup with Philadelphia's Zack Wheeler -- last year's NL Cy Young Award runner-up -- taking on Chris Sale, the winner of the 2024 award.
Wheeler (6-1, 2.42) enters this matchup with a streak of 22 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, having not allowed a run in any of his past three starts. He blanked the Athletics over 6 2/3 innings last Friday in winning his fourth consecutive start.
The recent string of zeros has been a welcome sight for Wheeler, who gave up a season-high five runs in a season-low 5 1/3 innings on April 8 in a 7-5 loss to the Braves. The veteran right-hander took a no-decision in that contest but still was visibly displeased afterward.
"I was mad at myself for not bearing down because you take pride in that type of stuff," Wheeler said after that contest. "Not being able to bear down and get out of that inning unscathed, that made me mad."
Wheeler is 13-8 with a 3.10 ERA in his career against the Braves, who have dropped five of their last six games entering Thursday's action.
Sale (2-3, 3.36) opposed Wheeler in that April 8 matchup and gave up five runs in 4 2/3 innings. He has only made five career starts against the Phillies, posting a 1-2 record with a 5.46 ERA.
Most recently, the talented lefty limited the San Diego Padres to one run in seven innings in a 2-1 loss on Friday. He has a 1.90 ERA over his last seven starts.
Furthermore, Sale may not have to contend with Bryce Harper, as the star first baseman was drilled in the right elbow by Spencer Strider in Tuesday's contest. X-rays were negative on Harper, who was diagnosed with a contusion.
"I'm definitely relieved he is OK," Strider said Tuesday. "He's one of the best players of this century. So, he needs to be on the field. That's best for the game and it's good for us. It's good to compete against him."
--Field Level Media