Preview: Phillies look to avoid second-straight sweep at 1:35 EST

The Philadelphia Phillies take the field this afternoon at 1:35 EST, looking to avoid their second-straight sweep.

Starting Pitchers

Taijuan Walker (2-2, 6.91 ERA)
Tanner Houck (3-1, 5.34 ERA)

It’s been a brutal stretch for the Phillies as they’ve now lost six in a row and have fallen to four games under .500.

The issues have stemmed from the starting pitching staff, who holds a 9.91 ERA over their last six games. No starter has gotten through seven innings over that time.

Bailey Falter was masterful through three innings last night but abruptly hit a wall in the fourth. He couldn’t make it out of the inning, as he totaled three and two-thirds on the night allowing six hits, five earned runs, and four strikeouts on just 69 pitches.

The Fightins got out to an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single from Alec Bohm, but the hole seemed to be too deep for this team to climb out of once Falter exited. They chipped away slowly, including two solo homers from Bryce Harper and Trea Turner, but their 9th-inning rally wasn’t completed, even with a runner on base for Harper.

The Phillies are rolling with a great lineup today, as Rob Thomson slides Kyle Schwarber, who is 0 for his last 20, back into the 5th spot. Bryson Stott will return to the leadoff spot, and Edmundo Sosa will get the nod at third base.

No game in May is truly a “must-win game”, but today sure feels like it.

Phillies Starting Lineup

Sunday afternoon lineup. #RingTheBell

📺: @NBCSPhilly
📻: @SportsRadioWIP
📱: https://t.co/HhDxScbmEV // https://t.co/vgbMhIMsON pic.twitter.com/HFVtMJf96v
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 7, 2023

Red Sox Starting Lineup

All set for the series finale! pic.twitter.com/d4DP18656b
— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 7, 2023

Taijuan Walker vs. Tanner Houck

Taijuan Walker looks for a bounceback game in today’s matinee after his worst outing so far in 2023 on Monday. Walker allowed eight earned runs and didn’t even get through the third inning, bringing his ERA up to 6.91 on the season.

Walker makes his third home start of the season today, with his last one coming on April 26th vs. the Mariners in which he allowed five hits and five earned runs in four innings.

Tanner Houck makes his sixth start of the season and is coming off his worst, allowing six hits and six earned runs to a lethal Blue Jays lineup on the road. Houck is 3-1 on the year with a 5.34 ERA and 29 strikeouts, whole holding a WHIP of 1.38.