The Philadelphia Phillies will turn to left-hander Ranger Suarez as they look to win their seventh straight series on Sunday afternoon when they face the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.
Suarez (12-6, 2.84 ERA) has played a big role for the Phillies, who have won 16 of their last 22 games.
He has won his last four decisions, book-ending a season in which he won his first four. He would set a career high in wins with a victory in one of his last two scheduled starts.
The Diamondbacks evened the series with a 4-3 victory on Saturday.
Philadelphia (92-63) dropped three games behind the Brewers (95-60) in the race for the best record in the National League. The top two teams will receive a first-round bye in the postseason, and the No. 1 team will earn home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs.
The Diamondbacks (78-77) moved within two games of the New York Mets (80-75) and remained one game behind Cincinnati (79-76) in the hunt for the final NL wild-card spot. The Reds hold the tiebreaker against Arizona and New York.
The Diamondbacks are 27-18 since the trade deadline in late July, despite dealing five free-agents-to-be — including corner infielders Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor.
Ildemaro Vargas, who joined the team in midseason and has filled in at first base for the last few weeks, had the game-deciding single Saturday.
“This is the picture we are painting right now,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “We sold out to that. I understand why Mike (general manager Hazen) did it. We didn’t give him a lot to lean on. A lot of guys have been responding.
“I’m fine with doing everything we can to compete in this division. The name of the game is getting to the big dance. The (NL West-leading Los Angeles) Dodgers are dancing with the prettiest girls now. We have to find a way to make that happen.”
Suarez, who finished 12-8 last season, is set to oppose Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (8-8, 5.12 ERA). Suarez, who has 17 quality starts this year, is 4-0 while surrendering just six earned runs over his last six outings.
“He’s commanding his fastball, and the other stuff is playing really well right now,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “The curveball. The changeup. He’s throwing strikes, getting after hitters.”
Suarez is 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA in 10 career appearances (seven starts) against Arizona. He gave up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings of a no-decision on May 4, his first appearance after missing the first five weeks of the season with lower back soreness. Vargas is 9-for-18 with two homers against him.
Rodriguez has won his last three decisions, and the Diamondbacks have won eight of his last nine starts. He had given up one run in 18 1/3 innings in three straight starts before the Giants touched him for five runs in five innings his last time out Tuesday. Arizona won 6-5.
Rodriguez is 1-1 with a 3.52 ERA in four career starts against the Phillies, including a no-decision in which he gave up three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings on May 4. Max Kepler is 6-for-17 with two homers against him.
–Field Level Media
