The Philadelphia Phillies (4-8, 4-8 RL, 6-6 O/U) meet with the Cincinnati Reds (4-6, 7-3 RL, 6-5 O/U) in the first of a three-game series on Thursday evening. The Phillies will give the starting nod to Bailey Falter. The Reds will reply with Nick Lodolo. The Phillies won two of three against the Reds last week.
Bailey Falter will get the nod for the third time of the season. Falter allowed two runs in 5.1 innings in his season debut against Texas. He was outstanding last time out, holding this Reds squad to only one run in five innings, but received no help from the offense and finished with the no-decision in a game the Phillies ended up winning. The young southpaw had an encouraging 2022 season where he posted a 3.86 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP and that success has carried into this year. Falter has limited the Reds to only two runs in 10.2 career innings.
The Phillies begin a road trip in this one. They are a 1-5 on the road after losing to the Rangers and Yankees in the opening week. Philly has been a little better after a poor start, going 4-2 in their last six games against the Reds and Marlins. They scored 21 runs in the three games against Miami but dropped two of the three meetings.
??? THAT WAS A SIZZLER #RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/uQMTEGiNsP
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 12, 2023
Trea Turner was signed in the offseason in a big move that will help set the table for the cleanup hitters. The 29-year-old shortstop posted 100 RBIs and an .809 OPS with the Dodgers last season and is hitting .327 with three RBIs and an .809 OPS this season. He went 2 for 12 with zero RBIs against the Reds last week. Bryce Harper remains out of the lineup.
The Phillies are heating up at the plate and are scoring an average of 4.45 runs per game, ranking them 22nd. They have posted a 5.65 team ERA, placing them 26th.