Walker Anchors Phillies Pitching Probables for Cardinals Series

The Philadelphia Phillies have set their pitching rotation for their three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals, which starts on Friday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Friday’s game starts at 8:15 p.m. eastern. Saturday’s game starts at 7:15 p.m. and Sunday’s finale begins at 2:15 p.m.

Phillies right-hander Aaron Nola (12-9, 4.64) will start against St. Louis left-hander Zack Thompson (5-5, 4.06) on Friday.

Nola took a no-decision in his last start against Miami on Saturday. He allowed seven hits and four earned runs in 4.1 innings. But, he struck out six and walked none. In his last seven starts he has a 3-2 record with a 5.40 ERA, along with 46 strikeouts and 11 walks in his last 38.1 innings.

Thompson has won his last two starts, and that included a victory against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. He went five innings and gave up three earned runs and five hits. He struck out six and walked three. He has been solid in his last seven games, which includes six starts, a 3-2 record with a 3.71 ERA, 38 strikeouts and 10 walks in his last 34 innings.

Saturday’s game will feature Phillies left-hander Ranger Suárez (2-6, 3.93) against Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas (7-11, 4.75).

Suárez threw 10 strikeouts in his last start against Miami on Sunday, although he ended up with a no-decision. He gave up two hits, three earned runs and three walks in 6.1 innings. In his last seven starts he is 0-2 with a 4.08 ERA, with 42 strikeouts and 15 walks in his last 39.2 innings.

Mikolas took the loss in his last start against Cincinnati on Sunday. He gave up seven hits and five earned runs in 5.1 innings against the Reds. He also struck out two and walked one. He has struggled in his last seven starts, with a 1-4 record and a 6.21 ERA. He only has 22 strikeouts and 10 walks in his last 42 innings.

In Sunday’s finale the Phillies’ Taijuan Walker (15-5, 4.30) will face St. Louis’ Dakota Hudson (6-2, 3.32).

Walker, a right-hander, took a no-decision against Atlanta on Monday. He went 5.1, gave up six hits and five earned runs, struck out five and walked three. In his last seven starts, Walker is 4-1 with a 5.22 ERA. That includes 30 strikeouts and 19 walks in his last 39.2 innings.

Hudson, also a right-hander, took the loss in his last start against Baltimore on Monday. The Orioles knocked him around for seven earned runs and eight hits in just 4.1 innings. He also struck out two and walked three. In his last seven starts he has a 4-2 record with a 5.77 ERA, but he has as many strikeouts (17) as walks in his last 39 innings.

After St. Louis, the Phillies stay on the road and head to Atlanta to face the Braves in a three-game series that starts on Monday.