Boston @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 21, 2019 ) Philadelphia 5, Boston 2

Scoreboard watching has become a second job for the Philadelphia Phillies, who host the Boston Red Sox for a two-game series beginning Saturday. Philadelphia sits 2 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the second wild-card spot in the National League but plays 11 of its final 16 contests on the road.

"Yeah, there’s a big scoreboard out there that tells us the whole thing,” Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto told reporters. “Obviously we're watching the other teams that we're behind and teams we're trying to keep up with.'' The defending World Series champion Red Sox are nearing elimination and reduced to celebrating the personal accomplishments of Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers. Bogaerts is the second shortstop in major league history (Alex Rodriguez, 1996) to collect 30 home runs and 50 doubles in a season while Devers needs one homer to join Bogaerts as the only teammates in club history to record 30 and 50 in the same season. Philadelphia's Aaron Nola won during the Phillies' two-game sweep at Fenway Park in August and takes the ball Saturday opposite Eduardo Rodriguez, who tries for his 18th victory.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, NESN (Boston), NBCS Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Red Sox LH Eduardo Rodriguez (17-6, 3.73 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola (12-5, 3.70)

Rodriguez had his four-start undefeated streak and six-turn unbeaten run end after allowing one run and five hits with nine strikeouts in six innings of a 5-0 loss to the New York Yankees on Monday. The 26-year-old Venezuelan, who emerged as the staff ace this season, yielded four runs across 32 1/3 innings over his last five outings. Philadelphia's Jay Bruce is 3-for-7 with a home run and two walks against Rodriguez, who won his only start against the Phillies during his 2015 rookie season.

Nola allowed four runs, six hits and four walks while striking out seven over six innings of a 7-2 loss to Atlanta on Monday. The 26-year-old Louisiana native is 6-2 with a 3.02 ERA in 18 home starts this season but winless (0-2) with a 5.01 ERA over his last four overall outings. Boston's roster is 9-for-55 against Nola, who is 1-0 with a 1.80 in two starts versus the Red Sox after yielding two runs over seven innings of a 3-2 victory Aug. 20.

WALK-OFFS

1. Philadelphia has spun its wheels since the sweep of Boston by splitting 20 games.

2. Devers (.314, 29 home runs), Bogaerts (.304, 31) and DH J.D. Martinez (.303, 35) are trying to become the first trio to hit at least .300 with 30 or more runs in the same season in club history.

3. The Phillies' 11-game road trip that begins Tuesday consists of three apiece against NL East-leading Atlanta and American League wild card contender Cleveland, and five versus NL wild card leader Washington.

PREDICTION: Phillies 3, Red Sox 2