Howie Kendrick's been the owner of the Phillies' hottest bat recently. However, they didn't need him to win the series finale against the Cardinals Thursday afternoon as Kendrick and Aaron Altherr had the day off against St. Louis.
Still, the Phillies, baseball's worst team away from home with a 9-28 road record, will need all the offense they can get against the Diamondbacks, who own the game's best record at home, 26-9. Kendrick, bringing his .350 average to the two-hole, will look to be a spark high in the order. Altherr hits one spot behind him, batting third.
Rookie Cameron Perkins, who was called up from Triple A Lehigh Valley after the Phillies DFA'd the disappointing Michael Saunders, remains in the leadoff spot. He has two hits in 11 big-league plate appearances so far.
Tommy Joseph was the key to Thursday's win. He launched a solo home run and finished the day with three RBIs. He'll bat cleanup again.
And Odubel Herrera, whose mental mistakes on the base paths have been disappointing to say the least (see story), remains in the lineup but drops down to sixth in the order. Pete Mackanin said after Thursday's game that he considered giving Herrera an off in the series finale against the Cards.
Mark Leiter Jr. makes his first MLB start after 12 relief appearances so far for the big-league club. The Phillies have yet to win a game in which Leiter has pitched, but aside from one meltdown appearance, he boasts a 2.95 ERA. His most recent start in Triple A went well - in six shutout innings, he let up just two hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
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The Diamondbacks will send lefty Patrick Corbin to the hill. He's 6-6 with 5.19 ERA and has won his last two starts.
Here's the Phillies' full lineup:
1. Perkins, LF
2. Kendrick, 2B
3. Altherr, RF
4. Joseph, 1B
5. Franco, 3B
6. Herrera, CF
7. Galvis, SS
8. Rupp, C
9. Leiter Jr., P
And for Arizona:
1. Descalso, LF
2. Peralta, RF
3. Goldschmidt, 1B
4. Lamb, 3B
5. Owings, SS
6. Drury, 2B
7. Iannetta, C
8. Fuentes, CF
9. Corbin, P
