After a disappointing series finale against the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Philadelphia Phillies sit at 7-8 to start the season.
On Monday, they welcome a team with an identical record to Citizens Bank Park: the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs are coming off a walkoff victory that kept them from being swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite devastating injuries to their starting rotation, the Cubs have been one of the better pitching teams in the early going.
They feature the sixth-best ERA in the majors (3.43). Opposing hitters are being held to a .212 batting average. They've found success without the likes of Cade Horton, Justin Steele, Matthew Boyd and Phil Maton.
All three starters the Phillies will face in this series have an ERA under the team's mark of 3.43. Javier Assad will go on Monday. He was nearly perfect in his season debut, allowing a hit and two walks over 5.2 IP.
Lefty Colin Rea on Tuesday has allowed four earned runs in his first 11.1 IP. Shota Imanaga gets the ball for the finale. He's off to a hot start in his third MLB season, striking out 20 over 16 IP and allowing just five earned runs.
The Phillies will counter with the top three starters of their rotation: Cristopher Sánchez, Aaron Nola and Jesús Luzardo. Sánchez was inefficient in his last start but sports a 1.65 ERA.
Aaron Nola has recently delivered two consecutive quality starts in Colorado and San Francisco. Luzardo has been a mixed bag to start. He'll be looking to return to form after blowing a four-run lead against the Diamondbacks.
With both offenses being inconsistent at best, there could be a few pitchers' duels in South Philly. On the other hand, the weather is scheduled to heat up starting Monday.
It'll start in the low 80s and reach 90 by Wednesday.
Hot weather could call for hot bats.
