Toronto averages 4.7 runs per game and comes to Philadelphia with the fourth most homers in baseball (65). Meanwhile, the Phillies rank third in baseball with a 3.36 team ERA.
It'll be a battle of strengths all weekend.
Zach Eflin gets the assignment tonight for the Phillies, aiming to bounce back from his shortest outing of the season where he surrendered four runs (two earned) in 4 2/3 innings in St. Louis. Over three starts this year's he's allowed just three earned runs.
“Our pitching has been really strong,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler told reporters following Wednesday’s 4-0 win over Atlanta. "That leads me to believe our staff is really good, to hold (the Braves) down like that, and our bullpen was able to come in and shut them down as well.”
The Blue Jays counter with righty Sam Gaviglio who tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings this past Sunday against Oakland, giving up six hits while striking out six.
The two clubs last met in June 2016.
The Phillies are 4-0 in interleague play this season, having swept Tampa Bay and securing a win in Baltimore last week.
Having taken two of three from Atlanta earlier this week, the Phillies enter play tonight a half game behind the Braves in the NL East. The Braves, meanwhile, open a series in Boston.
Tonight's Starting Lineup
1. Hernandez 4
2. Hoskins 7
3. Herrera 8
4. Santana 3
5. Franco 5
6. Williams 9
7. Alfaro 2
8. Florimon 6
9. Eflin 1
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