The Philadelphia Phillies will look for their second consecutive victory and fifth in six games when they host the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday night.
Prized free agent acquisition Bryce Harper had two doubles and drove in two runs, his 10th game this season with multiple RBIs, in Philadelphia’s 4-3 win over the Cardinals on Tuesday. Harper, who had been struggling to make contact in recent games, raised his average to .232.
“I have zero concerns on Bryce Harper,” Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said.
The Phillies will hand the ball to right-hander Aaron Nola (5-0, 4.53 ERA). Nola has a 2.76 ERA over his past six starts compared to a 6.84 ERA over his first five starts.
Nola has struck out 18 over his past 11 1/3 innings.
In Nola’s last start Wednesday at Chicago, he tossed 5 1/3 innings and gave up four hits and three runs in a 9-7 victory. Nola appeared to be able to continue, but was surprisingly pulled by Kapler.
“Sure, Noles being who he is, could have gotten through that inning,” Kapler told reporters. “But we don’t have the ability to have the alternate universe and see what could have happened.”
Nola is 3-2 with a 2.59 ERA in five career starts against the Cardinals.
The Phillies remain in first place in the National League East with a 32-22 record, yet the bullpen continues to be inconsistent. After scuffling badly in the series finale Sunday at Milwaukee, the relievers were stellar Tuesday against the Cardinals.
Edgar Garcia, Seranthony Dominguez and Hector Neris combined to allow just one hit in four shutout innings. Neris earned the save, his 10th in 10 chances this year.
Andrew McCutchen started in center field Tuesday and Nick Williams, who was just recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, started in left largely because Odubel Herrera was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball. Herrera was arrested Monday in an alleged domestic violence incident at an Atlantic City casino.
The Cardinals are 7-17 in May after going 19-10 in March and April.
Third baseman Matt Carpenter went 0-for-4 on Tuesday and saw his average dip to .218. The Cardinals had only four hits combined, which has been an issue through their struggles this month.
“The guys in this room are the last ones to worry about stuff like that,” Carpenter told reporters about the lack of wins this month. “Sometimes, the city, the fans, even the staff or front office can get a little concerned when things aren’t looking the way they should. But the guys in this room haven’t lost the idea that we know we’re a great team.”
The Cardinals will give the ball to 22-year-old Genesis Cabrera for his major league debut. Cabrera will step into the rotation spot of Michael Wacha, who was bumped to the bullpen.
Cabrera is 2-3 with a 6.35 ERA in seven starts and two relief appearances for at Triple-A Memphis this year.
“The reports we’ve gotten from Memphis have been very positive,” Cardinals manager Mike Shildt said. “We trust our player-development group and our front office, and that was the recommendation and we follow it.”