The Phillies open a three-game set with the Seattle Mariners tonight at Citizens Bank Park. The club is riding a three-game winning streak and has won four of its last five games.
The Mariners (10-11) come to Philadelphia having taken two of three over the weekend from the Cardinals and sit four games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West.
Lefty Bailey Falter will start the opener for the Phils, looking to build off his fantastic performance last week against the White Sox, where he tossed seven solid frames while allowing three runs. He's carrying a 4.50 ERA over four starts this season.
The Mariners will counter with left-hander Marco Gonzales. The 31-year-old has posted a 3.78 ERA over three starts this season. He pitched well in his last outing, surrendering two runs over six frames. He whiffed nine.
Who to Watch
Jarred Kelenic is off to a fantastic start this season, leading the M's with a .319 average and a 1.044 OPS. He hit his sixth homer of the year Sunday in a 7-3 loss to the Cards. Julio Rodriguez is another player to watch. The AL Rookie of the Year last year is carrying a 114 OPS+ over 22 games this season.
Nice to See
Nick Castellanos collected another hit on Sunday and is hitting .307 with two homers and 13 RBIs over 23 games this year.
On a Roll
The Phillies hit a season-high four homers while Zack Wheeler collected 11 strikeouts in a 9-3 win over Colorado on Sunday. The club has gotten off to a slow start, but this series with Seattle could give the club some additional momentum as they embark on a trip out west beginning Friday with a three-game set in Houston followed by a series in Los Angeles with the Dodgers.
"You get everything working together, it just seems to put things into place," said Brandon Marsh. "Pitching, defense, hitting -- it's all needed as a recipe for success."
The Weather
Clear skies tonight over Citizens Bank Park, but it'll be a bit chilly with temps hovering around 50.
The Odds
The Phillies are listed as -126 favorites at Bovada. The over/under is set at nine.
Phillies Lineup
Stott 4, Turner 6, Schwarber DH, Castellanos 9, Realmuto 2, Bohm 3, Sosa 5, Marsh 8, Pache 7, Falter LHP.
