Atlanta @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 29, 2018 ) Atlanta 0, Philadelphia 3

The Philadelphia Phillies wrap up the regular season Sunday when they host the Atlanta Braves, capping a year in which both teams rose from the depths of rebuilding to contend for the National League East title. But it is the Braves who will play on into the National League Division Series as division champions, thanks in large part to a September in which Atlanta is 16-11 with five wins in six games against a Phillies squad that improved to 7-20 this month after Saturday’s 3-0 victory.

The Phillies (79-82) were 15 games over .500 after a victory on Aug. 5 but are 16-34 with a minus-90 run differential in 50 games since. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez, who delivered a big two-run single in the seventh inning Saturday to snap a scoreless tie and help Philadelphia end an ugly nine-game losing streak, enters Sunday hitting .311 in 88 career games against Atlanta. The Braves (90-71) not only are trying to finish with a better record than either Colorado or Los Angeles to secure home field in the NLDS, but they also could have the top two hits leaders in the NL as first baseman Freddie Freeman has a league-leading 191 entering the finale and right fielder Nick Markakis sits second with 185. The Braves have won 47 road games this season, matching their most since 2004, and a victory in the finale would give Atlanta its most road triumphs since winning 49 in 2002.

TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, FS South (Atlanta), NBC Sports Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Kevin Gausman (10-10, 3.93 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Ranger Suarez (1-1, 6.00)

Atlanta acquiring Gausman has turned out to be one of the best moves any team made at the trade deadline, as he is 5-2 with a 2.80 ERA in nine starts since leaving Baltimore. The 27-year-old, who is in line to make a start in the NLDS, allowed three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings against the Phillies on Sept. 20. Gausman has surrendered more than three earned runs in a Braves uniform and walked more than two just once.

Suarez has spent most of the season in the minor leagues, going 6-3 with a 2.75 ERA in 21 starts for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and Double-A Reading. The 23-year-old makes his fourth major-league appearance and third start Sunday, giving up one unearned run on three hits in three innings of relief Monday at Colorado. Suarez struggled in his two starts (July 26 at Cincinnati; Aug. 16 against the Mets), giving up a combined 12 runs (eight earned) on 17 hits in nine innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia C Jorge Alfaro left Saturday’s game after striking out in the second inning, ending his four-game hitting streak.

2. Atlanta relievers walked four hitters in the three-run seventh Saturday but saw rookie RHP Touki Toussaint strike out the side in a perfect eighth.

3. After going 6-13 against the Phillies last season, Atlanta leads the 2018 season series 12-6.

PREDICTION: Braves 5, Phillies 2