The Philadelphia Phillies look for their first sweep of the 2023 season tonight against the Houston Astros at 7:00 EST.

Starting Pitchers

• Bailey Falter (0-4, 4.50 ERA)
• Jose Urquidy (1-2, 5.64 ERA)

The Phillies have played some great baseball throughout the first two games of this series, outscoring the Astros 9-2 at the plate. Pitching has been the true highlight of this series so far for the Phillies, with Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler both looking like themselves again. The two aces combined for 14 innings pitched, allowing just six total hits while striking out 13 batters.

Friday night’s game was a bit of a nailbiter, but a leadoff homer from Kyle Schwarber and clutch defense from Nick Castellanos led the way for the Fightins.

Aaron Nola threw his best start of the season, tallying eight innings of three-hit-ball while striking out six.

Game 2 was a little less stressful, especially after the Phils got two insurance runs off of a Kody Clemens 2-run homer in the top half of the 6th inning. Wheeler dominated, logging six total innings allowing just three hits while striking out seven.

Situational hitting has been the issue for the Phillies to start the season, but now 8-2 in their last ten, the offense has truly led the way.

Nick Castellanos has been on an absolute tear for the team, slashing .375/.375/.625 over the last seven days with 9 hits, 15 total bases, and two homers.

Today’s pitching matchup won’t be anywhere near as premiere as the first two games, with Bailey Falter and Jose Urquidy set to square off on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.

Phillies Starting Lineup

Bailey Falter vs. Jose Urquidy

Falter is 0-4 on the season with a 4.50 ERA and will be making his sixth start of the year. He will enter tonight with a 1.14 WHIP, 1.3 BB/9 and 6.1 K/9 in 28 IP.

In his last start, Falter threw six innings, allowing three earned runs and six hits while striking out seven against the Seattle Mariners last Tuesday. 

Jose Urquidy will get the start for the Astros and will take the mound tonight with a 1-2 record and a heavy 5.74 ERA. He’ll also make his sixth start of the year and has a .75 WHIP, 3.6 BB/9 and 8.1 K/9 in 22 1/3 IP.

Last Monday against the Rays, Urquidy got rocked in just over two innings of work, allowing six earned run, seven hits, and two walks while striking out just three Tampa Bay batters. 

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Phillies @ Houston Astros – 7:00 EST

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Prediction

I think the Phillies complete the sweep tonight. This series was obviously circled on the Phillies calendar, and I think we saw yesterday how much these teams really don’t like each other. I’m looking out for another Schwarbomb today.

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