Phils, on verge of worst skid this century, look for answers vs. Braves

Phils, on verge of worst skid this century, look for answers vs. Braves

The surging Atlanta Braves will try to compound Philadelphia's recent struggles when they open a three-game series against the visiting Phillies on Friday night.

The Braves just took three of four games from the host Washington Nationals, capped by a 7-2 victory on Thursday, and have won eight of their last nine.

The Phillies have lost nine straight games after falling 8-7 in 10 innings to the host Chicago Cubs on Thursday to complete a four-game sweep. Philadelphia has the worst record in the National League and is tied with the Kansas City Royals for the worst mark in the majors.

The weekend set will be the second series between the teams this year. Atlanta swept a three-game set in Philadelphia last weekend.

Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson tried to find a silver lining in the losing streak, the team's longest since a nine-game skid in September 2018. The Phillies last had a double-figure losing streak when they dropped 11 in a row in September 1999.

"Did we lose? Yeah. Do you feel bad about that? Yeah," Thomson said. "But they fought and hopefully it carries over into tomorrow."

The series opener will feature a rematch between two right-handers who faced each other on Sunday, Philadelphia rookie Andrew Painter (1-1, 4.42 ERA) and Atlanta's Grant Holmes (1-1, 3.42). The Braves won that game 4-2.

Painter, the Phillies' first-round draft pick in 2021, looks fully recovered from Tommy John surgery performed in July 2023. He made 26 minor league starts last year and made his major league debut this year on March 31.

Painter took his first loss last week against the Braves. He pitched four-plus innings and allowed three runs on five hits, one walk and had four strikeouts.

Holmes lasted 4 2/3 innings against the Phillies, permitting two runs on four hits and one walk while fanning four. Holmes, who has not allowed more than three runs in any appearance this season, is 1-1 with a 2.19 ERA in five career games (two starts) against Philadelphia.

Philadelphia's Bryce Harper needs one extra-base hit to become the 27th player to reach 800 before turning 34 years old. In 203 career games against Atlanta, Harper has 37 doubles, one triple and 46 homers.

Atlanta center fielder Michael Harris II left the Thursday game in the eighth inning because of left quad tightness but hopes to be in the lineup on Friday.

"That's the plan," he said, according to MLB.com. "I'm going to go home, make sure I do everything right and then come in and see how I'm feeling."

In his past seven games, Harris is hitting .565 (13-for-23) with four homers and nine RBIs. He went 3-for-4 with two RBIs before exiting on Thursday.

The Braves placed left-hander Dylan Dodd on the 15-day injured list because of a left thoracic spine infection on Thursday and optioned right-hander Didier Fuentes to Triple-A Gwinnett. Atlanta promoted right-handers Carlos Carrasco and JR Ritchie from Gwinnett, with Ritchie throwing seven strong innings to win his major league debut on Thursday. He gave up two runs and five hits over seven innings.

The Phillies recalled right-hander Nolan Hoffman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, optioned right-hander Alan Rangel to Lehigh Valley and released right-hander Taijuan Walker.

--Field Level Media