Atlanta @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 23, 2018 ) Philadelphia 1, Atlanta 2

The Philadelphia Phillies entertained dreams of reaching the playoffs for most of the season, but a disastrous September sends them limping home for the opener of the final series of 2018 on Friday against the Atlanta Braves. The Phillies began September just two games behind the Braves in the National League East but are just 6-19 this month and riding an eight-game losing streak after being swept in consecutive four-game road series by division champion Atlanta and Colorado.

Staff ace Jake Arrieta took the loss in Thursday’s 5-3 defeat to end his season by allowing three runs or more in his final seven starts, and on the road trip Philadelphia pitchers posted an 8.30 ERA while allowing an average of 7.5 runs and 10.1 hits per game. The Braves (89-70) have secured their first postseason berth in five years but are in a battle to hold off Colorado (89-70) for home-field advantage in next week’s NL Division Series. After clinchng the division title with a six-game winning streak Atlanta has dropped two in a row, finishing with just one run on eight hits in back-to-back losses to the New York Mets. First baseman Freddie Freeman enters the weekend leading the National League with 187 hits, while right fielder Nick Markakis is second with 184.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), NBC Sports Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Mike Foltynewicz (12-10, 2.88 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jerad Eickhoff (0-0, 9.00)

Foltynewicz gets a final tune-up start before most likely taking the ball for Atlanta in Game 1 of the NLDS. The 26-year-old’s breakout season is a big reason why the Braves are in the playoffs, ranking fifth in the NL in ERA, and seventh in WHIP (1.11) and strikeouts (193). Foltynewicz is 5-3 in his past 10 starts with a 2.60 ERA and a .182 batting average against, and he did not allow a hit to the Phillies over six innings to win the NL East clincher in his last start Saturday.

Eickhoff makes his first start of the season and just his third appearance as a lat muscle injury and finger numbness scuttled most of his 2018. The 28-year-old made his season debut Sept. 8 against the Mets, giving up one run on three hits in one inning of relief. He did not pitch again until finishing a 10-1 loss Monday at Colorado, allowing one run on two hits in one inning, and likely will be on a limited pitch count Friday.

WALK-OFFS

1. Phillies 3B Maikel Franco is 5-for-12 during his current five-game hitting streak and begins the weekend eight hits shy of 500 for his career.

2. Atlanta RHP Julio Teheran gave up one run on two hits with two walks and five strikeouts Thursday, in his bid to earn a starting assignment in the NLDS.

3. Philadelphia’s 0-8 road trip is the franchise’s worst since 1883, and the team enters the final weekend with a 78-81 record after sitting 10 games above .500 (72-62) on Sept. 1.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Phillies 2