PHILADELPHIA — It has been quite the week for the Philadelphia Phillies.
After being swept at home by the Milwaukee Brewers, the club went North to try and change their fortunes. After winning their opener against the Toronto Blue Jays, the team dropped the next two, including a 9-1 blowout on Thursday.
Consecutive outings with 8 earned runs for Jesus Luzardo has shaken the confidence of the team’s prized off-season addition. The team’s offense has remained inconsistent, and the Phillies scored a total of 2 runs in their back-to-back losses to end the series.
With 1 win in their last 7 games, the Phillies will now head to Pittsburgh to take on their cross-state rivals. Can the Phillies regain their momentum?
Pitching Matchups
Joe Ross 2-1, 4.34 ERA vs Bailey Falter 4-3, 3.14 ERA
Due to Zack Wheeler being placed on the paternity list this week, the Phillies had to shuffle around their rotation. This resulted in Mick Abel making a start on 4 days’ rest in his outing on Wednesday, and moved Cristopher Sanchez‘s start up a day.
With Wheeler still not back with the team, the Phillies will now run a bullpen game on Friday in Pittsburgh. Reliever Joe Ross, who has starter experience, will get the ball to start the game. After Luzardo’s early exit on Thursday, an already taxed bullpen is going to need to gut through 9 more innings of play.
The Phillies will face former team member Bailey Falter. Falter was with the team from 2021-2023, where he was dealt to Pittsburgh for infielder Rodolfo Castro. Since joining the Pirates, Falter has started 50 games, earning a 14-14 record with a 4.27 ERA in 248.2 innings pitched.
Ranger Suarez 4-0, 2.72 ERA vs Andrew Heaney 3-4, 3.39 ERA
Ranger Suarez will pick up the pieces for the Phillies on Saturday, in a game where he must go at least 6 innings. Suarez pitched a gem against the Brewers in his last outing, but poor defense and a lack of offense cost the Phillies the game. Suarez will put his unbeaten record on the line in this one.
Opposing Suarez will be Andrew Heaney of the Pirates. Heaney tossed 5 innings and allowed just 1 earned run in his first start against the Phillies this season. The Phillies would erupt against the Pirates’ bullpen in that game, where Heaney did not factor in the decision.
Cristopher Sanchez 5-1, 3.15 ERA vs Paul Skenes 4-6, 2.05 ERA
Cristopher Sanchez will end the Phillies-Pirates season series when he takes the mound on Sunday afternoon. Sanchez is the last starter to put the Phillies in the win column and will look to add to his impressive 5-1 record. After a breakout 2024 season, Sanchez has not been quite as sharp in 2025. Despite not living up to the dark horse Cy Young discussions that surrounded him this off-season, Sanchez has still delivered for his team.
The Pirates will send out Paul Skenes against the Phillies for the second time this season. In their first matchup, Skenes threw a complete game (8 innings), where he allowed just 1 earned run. However, Phillies starter Mick Abel and the bullpen combined for 9 scoreless frames, earning Skenes the loss.
If the Phillies want to win this matchup again, they will likely need to score more than just the 1 run they scratched out a few weeks ago. Skenes’ 2.05 earned run average is the 7th best in baseball and he has pitched the most innings of any starter thus far in 2025.
Watson’s Watchlist
Bryce Harper
Traditionally, Bryce Harper does not perform well at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. For a struggling Phillies offense, Harper is going to need to spark the offense this weekend for his team.
In 31 games at the Pirates’ home ballpark, Harper is hitting .237 with an OPS of .733. He has just 3 home runs in his appearances in Pittsburgh and 30 strikeouts.
I would look to Harper to not only set the tone for the Phillies this weekend, but also improve his PNC Park statistics. He homered in his return to the lineup on Tuesday against Toronto and could be the second Phillie to reach double digits with his next blast.
Paul Skenes
While he is not a Phillie, it is fun to watch Paul Skenes throw a baseball.
Arguably already a top-5 pitcher in baseball, Skenes is a franchise-altering talent expected to produce a Hall of Fame-level career. In just his second season, the right-hander is already starting to fill out his resume.
As mentioned, Skenes will face the Phillies once again on Sunday afternoon. His first start was dominant, and the Phillies were lucky that their pitching staff bailed out their offense. That same fortune will likely not be duplicated in this outing, and the bats will have to earn it against Skenes.
If nothing else, Phillies fans will get a chance to witness one of the best young players in baseball. If the offense can produce against him, maybe their confidence will carry them when they return home to face the Chicago Cubs this upcoming Monday.
Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
