Philadelphia Phillies Select Walker To Lead Rotation vs. Atlanta

The Philadelphia Phillies start a four-game series with the Atlanta Braves on Monday with a doubleheader.

The Philadelphia Phillies have set their pitching rotation for their four-game series against the Atlanta Braves, which starts on Monday at Citizens Back Park.

Monday is a doubleheader, as the two teams make up a game from June 21. Game 1 is set for 1:05 p.m. eastern, while Game 2 is set for 6:40 p.m. The final two games on Tuesday and Wednesday are set for 6:40 p.m.

The Phillies will send Taijuan Walker (15-5, 4.15) out for Game 1 against Atlanta’s Charlie Morton (14-11, 3.32).

Walker won his second straight start when he beat the San Diego Padres last Monday. He went five innings, giving up five hits and four earned runs. He struck out four and walked three. In his last seven starts, Walker is 4-1 with a 4.50 ERA. That includes 29 strikeouts and 19 walks in his last 40 innings.

Morton took the loss in his last start against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept 3. He gave up six hits and two earned runs in four innings, walking three and striking out three. In his last seven starts he is 4-3 with a 2.58 ERA. That includes 48 strikeouts and 21 walks in his last 38.1 innings.

The Braves have not set their starter for Game 2. The Phillies will pitch right-hander Michael Lorenzen (8-9, 3.95).

Lorenzen took the loss in his last start against San Diego on Tuesday. In six innings of work, he gave up eight hits and six earned runs, while walking three and striking out one. He is 3-2 with a 4.97 ERA in his first six starts with Philadelphia. That includes 21 strikeouts and 14 walks in 38 innings.

On Tuesday the Phillies will start right-hander Zack Wheeler (11-6, 3.49) against Atlanta left-hander Max Fried (7-1, 2.70).

Wheeler won his last start against San Diego on Wednesday, as he threw six innings of one-hit baseball. He struck out seven, walked two and didn’t allow a run. In his last seven starts, Wheeler is 3-1 with a 2.80 ERA, with 47 strikeouts and eight walks in his last 45 innings.

Fried won his last start against St. Louis on Thursday. In six innings, he allowed six hits and three earned runs. He struck out four and walked two. He has been brilliant in his last seven starts, going 5-0 with a 3.10 ERA. He has struck out 42 and walked nine in his last 40.2 innings.

The Phillies will start left-hander Cristopher Sánchez (2-3, 3.26) against Atlanta right-hander Spencer Strider (16-5, 3.83) in Wednesday’s finale.

Sánchez through five innings of four-hit baseball in his last start against Miami on Friday. While he took the no-decision, he struck out four and walked one. In his last seven starts he is 2-0 with a 3.58 ERA. He has struck out 35 and walked seven in his last 37.2 innings.

Strider was beat up in his last start on Wednesday against St. Louis. He gave up six hits and six earned runs in just 2.2 innings, as he struck out five and walked three. In his last seven starts, Strider is 5-2 with a 4.15 ERA, with 51 strikeouts and 16 walks in 39 innings.

After Atlanta leaves town, the Phillies get Thursday off before starting a three-game series at St. Louis on Friday.