Phillies win on error in 10th
Philadelphia takes on the reigning World Champs for first time this season
Phillies rally to avoid Dodgers’ sweep
After tying the game in the 9th inning, the Philadelphia Phillies walked it off on an error by Max Muncy in the 10th inning to win 4-3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, thus avoiding the sweep. —Tom Skulski, Inside the Phillies
Pitching performances:
PHI Zach Eflin: 7.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 12 K
LAD Tony Gonsolin: 6.0 IP, 3 H, ER, BB, 7 K
Standout bats:
PHI Garrett Stubbs: 2-for-2, BB, HR, RBI
PHI Jean Segura: 1-for-4, RBI
LAD Mookie Betts: 1-for-4, BB, HR, RBI
LAD Edwin Rios: 1-for-3, 2 BB, HR, RBI
Report: Coonrod en route to return to Phillies' bullpen
Phillies right-hander Sam Coonrod is scheduled to begin throwing live bullpen sessions this week, Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation reported on May 20.
Coonrod has yet to make an appearance this season after a shoulder sprain he suffered in late March kept him off of the Opening Day roster and held him to just two outings in spring training.
Coonrod was eventually transferred to the 60-day injured list on April 14 to make room for Andrew Bellatti.
Lugardo also reported that offseason acquisition Kent Emanuel, sidelined all of spring training with a left elbow impingement, has reportedly been throwing in simulated games. His timetable for return is unknown. —Lauren Amour, Inside the Phillies
Phillies face Braves for first time this season
Philadelphia will now travel to Atlanta to take on the reigning World Champion Braves. As the two teams are tied for second place in the NL East and both sit eight games behind the New York Mets, the four-game set will prove to be crucial to the standings. —Declan Harris, Inside the Phillies
Game 1:
PHI starter: Zack Wheeler (2-3, 3.49 ERA)
ATL starter: Tucker Davidson (1-0, 5.87 ERA)
First pitch: May 23, 7:20 p.m. EST
NBCSP/94.1 WIP
Game 2:
PHI starter: Kyle Gibson (3-2, 3.98 ERA)
ATL starter: Max Fried (4-2, 3.31 ERA)
First pitch: May 24, 7:20 p.m. EST
NBCSP/94.1 WIP
Game 3:
PHI starter: Ranger Suárez (4-2, 4.12 ERA)
ATL starter: Charlie Morton (3-3, 4.95 ERA)
First pitch: May 25, 7:20 p.m. EST
NBCSP, MLB Network/94.1 WIP
Game 4:
PHI starter: TBD
ATL starter: Kyle Wright (4-2, 2.49 ERA)
First pitch: May 26, 7:20 p.m. EST
NBCSP/94.1 WIP
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Can the Phillies remedy old trends when facing Braves?
For the Phillies to have any shot at snapping their decade-long postseason drought, they'll have to start beating bad teams, and that begins now with their NL East counterparts in the Braves.
In the NL East, only the New York Mets' record rests above .500. The Washington Nationals are mired in a rebuild, while the Phillies and Braves attempt to make noise with aging rosters.
With a run differential of -11, both the Braves’ offense and pitching has been lackluster. While their 2021 World Series-winning squad rested below .500 until August, their run differential always indicated more potential than their record.
The Braves are a team the Phillies can, and should, beat. By the numbers, the Phillies have a far superior offense, defense, and starting rotation. —Ben Silver, Inside the Phillies
Phocus on Phillies’ farm
The weekend’s top performers:
Triple-A: RHP Colton Eastman - 5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 6 K
Eastman hasn't exactly turned heads over the course of his minor league career, but he has been consistent, posting a career 3.64 ERA in 46 starts, with his outing on Saturday being no exception.
Double-A: C Logan O'Hoppe - 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, 3 BB, 2 K
O'Hoppe earned Eastern League Player of the Week for May 15 after going 13-for-24, slamming six home runs, drawing six walks, and striking out just three times.
High-A: RHP Ben Brown - 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 K
Brown has now pitched two gems in a row, and K'd 16 batters across his last 11.1 innings pitched.
Single-A: INF Hao-Yu Lee, 3-for-8, HR, R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K
In what has become the biggest breakout within the Phillies' system, Lee continues to torch Single-A pitching. The 19-year-old is up to a .316 average on the season, paired with a .924 OPS and six home runs. —Alex Carr, Inside the Phillies
Opinion: It's time to be concerned about Realmuto
Thus far in 2022, J.T. Realmuto has played the part of an aging 31-year-old catcher rather well. His defense is still solid, but Realmuto has slashed .226/.295/.323; even in 2022's lower offensive atmosphere, his OPS+ is still just 79.
His average exit velocity has dropped from 89.6 mph to 86.1 mph, which has coincided with a significant drop in BABIP from .325 to .295.
His xBA and xSLG rest at .245 and .379. Those statistics consider the Phillies' catcher unlucky, but they'd still place him well below league average, and even further below the value Philadelphia expects from him given his contract.
Joe Girardi and the Phillies should demand more of him, and perhaps that's why his name has stayed so high in the lineup. —Ben Silver, Inside the Phillies