For the first time since 2019, the Philadelphia Phillies (6-10) and Chicago White Sox (6-10) will square off. Both teams are looking to contend for their division crown in 2023 but have started slow due to injuries and shaky pitching. The visiting Phillies come in after splitting a series with the Reds, while the White Sox will try to play better than they did in their lost series facing the Orioles. The first pitch for this game is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. EST in Guaranteed Rate Field on Monday.
On Sunday, it took only one pitch for the Phillies to take the lead. After three outs, the club was well on its way to winning the game. Philadelphia scored nine times in the opening frame, parlaying that into a 14-3 victory. Every starter sans Nick Castellanos finished with multiple hits. The bullpen came in and threw three shutout innings. Everybody played their part in leaving Cincinnati with another tally in the win column.
Bryson? BRYS-HIM#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/VB1a87yNCf
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 16, 2023
Bryson Stott got it started with his first homer run of the season, pushing his hitting streak to 16 games to start the season. Stott is batting .380, leading an offense that has the highest batting average and second-highest slugging percentage in the league. They aren't top-10 in runs scored, but the offense has a ton of firepower.
Pitching has been a different story, as the Phillies enter this series 27th in ERA at 5.48. Only two teams have a higher BB/9 than Philadelphia. Their bullpen has been especially vulnerable, beginning play on Sunday with the second-highest ERA.
It's Zack Wheeler's turn to start, and he's gotten better with each outing of 2023. Although the Phillies lost, Wheeler's last start saw him allow one run over 6.0 innings of work. He only allowed three hits in the game, departing with the lead intact.