Philadelphia Phillies vs. Kansas City Royals:
The Philadelphia Phillies conclude their series in Kansas City against the Royals on Sunday, looking to snap out of a funk. They entered the weekend with a 16-24 record since July 6.
The Phillies elected to give All-Star Zack Wheeler extra rest and are calling on Kolby Allard to start on Sunday, though there is an outside chance an opener comes in before Allard, as that has already occurred once this season.
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Allard has made three total appearances this season with a 3.46 ERA but has gone five innings or fewer, and his fielding independent of 5.40 points towards lots of incoming regression.
Allard has just 5.5 strikeouts per nine innings while allowing 2.1 home runs per nine innings this season. At the minor league level this season, he has a 5.75 ERA across 21 appearances with 1.7 home runs and 3.8 walks allowed per nine innings.
Since July 1, the Phillies bullpen has also been a disaster, with a 5.22 ERA that ranks 27th in the league. They will have to take on a Royals offense that leads the American League with nearly 5.3 runs per game at home this season.
The Phillies’ lineup has also had some issues since the All-Star Break. They have averaged just over 4.3 runs per game since the break after Averaging just over five runs per game entering the All-Star Break.
Philadelphia will need a pair of players, Bruce Harper and Trae Turner, to bust out of second-half slumps. Both enter Saturday with a batting average of .213 or worse and an on-base percentage below .260.
They and the rest of the Phillies will look to do so against Seth Lugo, the American League leader in wins, who has a 3.02 ERA despite pitching to a lot of contact.
Lugo is getting 7.7 strikeouts per nine innings yet has managed to allow only 0.8 home runs per nine innings, posting a 3.45 fielding independent despite regression hitting him hard, with at least six total runs allowed in three of his past five starts.
With the Royals bullpen 25th in the league with a 4.31 ERA, there should be plenty of runs in Kansas City on Sunday.
MLB Pick: Philadelphia Phillies vs. Kansas City Royals Over 8.5 Runs
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