Philadelphia @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 18, 2019 ) Philadelphia 4, Atlanta 1

The Atlanta Braves have succeeded at a torrid pace for most of the summer, but enter Thursday’s home series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies trying to avoid being swept for the first time since late July. The Phillies, who are chasing the final National League wild card spot, used homers from Bryce Harper and Cesar Hernandez to clinch the series win with a 4-1 victory Wednesday, keeping the Braves from reducing their magic number to win the NL East to one.

Shortstop Jean Segura went 2-for-3 with a double and a RBI as Philadelphia won for the third time in five contests despite finishing with four hits and committing three errors, and is three games behind Milwaukee and the Chicago Cubs for the final NL wild card berth. Atlanta, which is 60-31 since June 7 and has not been swept in a series since falling in a two-game set to Kansas City on July 23-24, has dropped three games in a row for the first time since July 16-18. Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. finished 2-for-4 with a pair of singles Wednesday, but in 16 games this month is hitting .219 with 24 strikeouts. Third baseman Josh Donaldson went 0-for-4 and is hitless in his past 12 at-bats.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network; NBCS Philadelphia, FS Southeast (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH Aaron Nola (12-5, 3.62 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Soroka (12-4, 2.57)

Nola has provided the stability Philadelphia’s rotation has lacked for much of the season, entering Wednesday tied for first in the NL in starts (32), third in in innings pitched (191 2/3) and sixth in strikeouts (216). The 26-year-old has allowed three runs or fewer in seven of his past nine starts, giving up one run on four hits with nine strikeouts in seven innings in a no-decision Saturday against Boston. Nola faced the Braves five days earlier, giving up four runs in six innings to take the loss, and on the season is 3-1 with a 4.06 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in five starts against Atlanta.

After two starts in which he gave up a combined five homers in 11 innings to start September, Soroka rebounded with a gem Friday at Washington, allowing one hit with three walks and four strikeouts in six shutout innings. The 22-year-old continues building a case for Rookie of the Year and Cy Young consideration, ranking second in the NL in ERA, tied for fifth in WAR for pitchers (5.7) and eighth in WHIP (1.09). Soroka, who has a 4.18 ERA and 1.32 WHIP in 12 home starts compared to a 1.35 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 15 road outings, has given up five runs on 17 hits in 9 1/3 innings in two no-decisions against the Phillies this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta is 45-27 against NL East competition this season, but the Phillies lead the season series 10-8 entering the final matchup of the season.

2. Phillies 1B Rhys Hoskins on Wednesday went 0-for-3, ending his hitting streak at eight games.

3. Braves 2B Ozzie Albies is two triples shy of recording the first 40-double, 20-homer, 10-triple season in franchise history.

PREDICTION: Braves 3, Phillies 2