The Philadelphia Phillies got off to a modest 13-13 start through their first 26 games, but they’ve since emerged as one of the hottest teams in baseball.
They’ve gone 17-5 over their last 22 games and notched their fifth consecutive win with a 7-4 triumph over the Colorado Rockies. The Phillies will aim to keep their momentum going in the third game of a four-game series in Denver.
Philadelphia is set to start right-hander(1-3, 2.62 ERA), while the Rockies will counter with left-hander Carson Palmquist (0-1, 11.25 ERA).
Top star is set to face the Rockies for the second time this season and the 10th time in his career. He previously tossed six scoreless innings in a 3-1 Phillies win on April 3, improving his career record against Colorado to 4-1 with a 2.09 ERA.
That April victory remains Walker’s only win of the season despite a strong 2.62 ERA over eight outings (six starts). His last two appearances came out of the bullpen, and Wednesday will mark his first start since May 1. In that game, the Phillies provided him just two runs of support, a contrast to their offensive explosion to begin this series.
Kyle Schwarber has been a key part of that surge, launching his 300th career home run—a 466-foot blast—in Monday’s 9-3 win. He followed it up with another homer on Tuesday.
“It’s a special milestone,” said the 32-year-old Schwarber. “If you’d told 12-year-old me I’d hit 300 home runs, I wouldn’t have believed you. I’ve always loved the game, and it’s treated me well.”
Philadelphia will go up against a rookie making just his second career start.
Rockies lefty Carson Palmquist, 24, debuted last Friday in Arizona, where he gave up five runs over four innings in an 8-0 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Despite the rough outing, interim manager Warren Schaeffer saw positives in Palmquist’s performance.
“He competed well,” Schaeffer said. “That’s a tough assignment for a debut, but he showed great poise. After the first inning, when the nerves settled, he started filling the zone. That’s a great sign going forward.”
Palmquist is the seventh Rockies player—and fifth pitcher—to debut this season. The team has fully embraced a youth movement, with 10 players aged 25 or younger, contributing to their league-worst 8-40 record.
One bright spot has been the return of shortstop Ezequiel Tovar from a hip injury. Though the team’s results haven’t improved, Tovar has impressed, going 8-for-17 with two home runs since rejoining the lineup on Friday.