The Phillies Are Tanking Into Oblivion and the Braves Won't Let Them Catch Up
Here's a stat that should terrify Philadelphia fans: the Phillies are 8-17 and own a piece of the worst record in all of baseball. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves are 18-8 and sitting pretty atop the NL East with the best record in the majors. This three-game series at Truist Park starting Friday night is basically a checkup on how bad things have gotten in Philly.
The Phillies just extended their losing streak to nine games after getting swept by the Cubs at home. A sweep. At home. That's the kind of thing that makes you wonder what's actually happening in that clubhouse. Atlanta, on the flip side, just beat Washington on Thursday to take a three-game road series and keep rolling. The gap between these two teams is getting wider by the day, and Friday's matchup will show whether the Phillies have any fight left in them.
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Andrew Painter gets the start for Philly in Game 1. The 23-year-old has flashed some serious stuff, racking up 20 strikeouts through four outings, but he's also a rookie still figuring things out. His ERA sits at 4.42 over 18.1 innings pitched. He's got the talent, but the consistency isn't there yet.
Grant Holmes takes the ball for Atlanta. The 30-year-old right-hander has been a steal since getting thrown into the rotation early because of injuries. In five starts, he's got a 3.42 ERA with 20 strikeouts over 26.1 innings. He's pitching like a guy who's got something to prove, and it's working.
Game Details and What's at Stake
Game 1 goes Friday at 7:15 p.m. ET at Truist Park. You can catch it on Apple TV or stream it on MLB.com. Radio folks, tune into 680 AM or 93.7 FM The Fan.
This series matters because the Phillies need to snap their nine-game losing streak before it gets any uglier, and the Braves are intent on proving they're the class of the East. If Philly doesn't find some answers fast, this season could get really messy really quick.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.