Two teams positioned favorably in their playoff journeys begin a three-game series in interleague baseball from Missouri. The Philadelphia Phillies travel to face the Kansas City Royals on Friday night. The Phillies recently wrapped up a three-game series against the Braves, securing a narrow 3-2 win in the middle game. Meanwhile, the Royals also clinched their series against the Angels with a 3-0 victory on Wednesday. Last season, the Phillies won two out of three encounters against the Royals when they last met on August 4-6, 2023. This report was prepared before the completion of the Phillies’ game against the Braves on Thursday night.
Phillies Aim to Bolster NL East Lead
The Phillies managed to break a two-game losing streak by defeating the Braves in their last game. As of Thursday, they boasted a record of 74-52, maintaining a solid seven-game advantage over the Braves in the NL East standings. In their recent win, Philadelphia recorded five hits, with Weston Wilson being the only player to achieve a two-hit game. Brandon Marsh delivered the decisive run with an RBI single in the eighth inning. Aaron Nola pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, but did not receive a decision. Matt Strahm (5-2) was credited with the win after a clean seventh inning, and Carlos Estevez secured his 22nd save by closing the game without conceding a run.
Taijuan Walker is set to take the mound for the Phillies in the series opener, marking his 13th start of the season. He holds a record of 3-4 with a 5.69 ERA, along with 27 walks and 51 strikeouts over 66.2 innings. Walker did not factor into the decision in his last outing against the Nationals, where he pitched 4.2 innings and gave up three runs on four hits. In his past three starts, he has struggled with a 0-2 record and a 7.11 ERA. This will be Walker’s fifth career start against the Royals, with a history of 1-1 and a 4.50 ERA against them, including two prior starts at Kauffman Stadium.
Royals Look to Narrow AL Central Gap and Secure Wild Card Spot
Kansas City enters this matchup with momentum, having won six of their last seven games, including a recent victory over the Angels. As of Thursday, they held a record of 71-56, placing them tied for second in the AL Central, 2.5 games behind the Guardians. They are also competing closely with the Twins for the final wild card positions in the American League, maintaining a 3.5-game lead over the Red Sox. In their last game, the Royals saw strong performances from Hunter Renfroe and Adam Frazier, both contributing two hits. MJ Melendez hit his 15th homer of the season, and Michael Lorenzen (7-6) pitched seven scoreless innings to earn the win. Lucas Erceg completed the game successfully for his sixth save.
Michael Wacha will take the mound for the Royals, making his 23rd start of the season. With a record of 10-6 and a 3.33 ERA, Wacha has struck out 108 batters over 127 innings. He earned a win in his last outing against the Reds, throwing six innings and allowing no runs. Over his last three starts, Wacha has posted a 2-0 record with a 1.89 ERA. This will be Wacha’s 11th career appearance against the Phillies, where he has a 3-3 record and a 5.13 ERA. Notably, he has performed well at Kauffman Stadium, with an 8-2 record and a 3.27 ERA in previous starts.
Strategic Picks for the Phillies vs. Royals Matchup
The Phillies have shown improvement following a tough phase after the All-Star break. However, they face the challenge of playing on Thursday night before traveling to Kansas City for Friday’s game. In contrast, the Royals enjoy the benefits of an off day after their recent win against the Angels. Walker’s recent struggles have contributed to the Phillies losing their last seven games with him on the mound. On the other hand, Wacha has demonstrated solid form in his recent outings and has a favorable record at home. Given the rested bullpen and the current pitching matchup, Kansas City appears poised for victory in this contest.
