An NL duel between the Phillies and the Diamondbacks awaits us at Chase Field in Phoenix. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET. The Phillies are 69-48 and are first in the NL East, while the Diamondbacks are 65-53 and third in the NL West.

Philadelphia has currently lost two games in a row and is the slight favorite today at -129. Arizona has a moneyline of +109, while the over/under line is 9 runs. The starting pitchers today are Cristopher Sanchez for the Phillies and Merrill Kelly for the Diamondbacks.

Important information about Philadelphia vs. Arizona

• Team: Phillies at Diamondbacks
• Where: Chase Field Phoenix
• Date: Sunday, August 11
• Betting odds ARI +109 Over/Under 9

The Phillies can win if …

Left-hander Cristopher Sánchez starts for the Phillies today when they face the Diamondbacks on the road. This year, he has made 22 starts and has a record of 8-7 with a 3.27 ERA. Sánchez’s WHIP for the season is currently 1.26. In his 22 appearances, he has one complete game clean sheet and 12 good starts. Most recently, Sánchez faced the Dodgers, where he earned the win by going six innings and allowing just one earned run. Before this appearance, he had lost in three consecutive starts.

So far this season, the Phillies have averaged 4.8 runs per game, which ranks 8th in the league. They have been even better at home, averaging 5.3 runs per game. Overall, they rank 7th in home runs and have the 6th best team batting average in the league. As a team, the Phillies are also among the league leaders in on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS.

In his last five games, Kyle Schwarber has been in top form, hitting 8/20 with four home runs and nine RBIs. This season, he has a batting average of .259 with 27 home runs. Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm also lead the league in home runs, with Harper’s 26 home runs ranking 8th in the league and Bohm’s 12 home runs ranking 5th on the Phillies.

• The Phillies have finished their last ten games 4-6.
• In their last five games, the Phillies have a 3-2 record against the run line.
• Philadelphia has an over/under record of 6-3-1 in their last ten games.
• The Phillies have averaged 4.8 runs per game in their last five games.
• In their last ten away games, the Phillies are 4-6
• Looking back at the Phillies’ last five games as favorites, they are 2-3
• As an underdog, Philadelphia has won its last three games 2-1.
• In their last ten away games, the Phillies have averaged 4.4 runs per game on offense.

The Diamondbacks can win if …

Merrill Kelly and the Diamondbacks host the Phillies today. Kelly has won each of his first two starts and has been very consistent, allowing 2 earned runs in each game. His last start was against the Cubs, where he went 5 innings and had 5 strikeouts.

Arizona comes into the game with the best offense in the league, averaging 5.2 runs per game. At home, they have been even better, scoring 5.3 runs per game. The Diamondbacks are also one of the best home run teams in the league, ranking 7th in the league. As a team, they have a batting average of .260, which is the third best in MLB.

Ketel Marte has been one of the league’s best power hitters this season, as his 30 home runs are fourth-best in the league. He also leads the team with 81 RBIs and has a .299 batting average this season. Marte has hit six home runs in his last nine games. Christian Walker is also a power threat in the lineup, as he has hit 23 home runs this season.

• The Diamondbacks have finished their last ten games 8-2.
• In their last five games, the Diamondbacks have a 4-1 record against the run line.
• Arizona has an over/under record of 6-2-2 in their last ten games.
• The Diamondbacks have averaged 6.0 runs per game in their last five games.
• In their last ten home games, the Diamondbacks have a record of 7-3
• Looking back at the Diamondbacks’ last five games as favorites, the record is 3-2
• Arizona, as an underdog, has won its last three games 3-0.
• In their last ten away games, the Diamondbacks have averaged 5.5 runs per game on offense.

The Arizona Diamondbacks are riding a wave of success, and it’s about to get even better, as right-hander Merrill Kelly is set to make his long-awaited return. After being sidelined since April 23 with a strained right shoulder, Kelly is ready to get back on the mound this Sunday as the D-backs seek another series win over the Philadelphia Phillies. With the postseason in sight, Kelly’s comeback couldn’t come at a better time for Arizona.

Merrill Kelly’s comeback: Exactly what the D-backs needed

Merrill Kelly is back and the D-backs couldn’t be happier. Before his injury, Kelly was outstanding, posting a 2-0 record with a stellar 2.19 ERA in his first four starts of the season. Not only was he dominant on the mound, but he was also a workhorse, pitching at least five innings in every game. That’s the kind of stability the Diamondbacks need if they want to continue their winning streak.

Manager Torey Lovullo is excited about Kelly’s return and praises the 35-year-old veteran for his hard work during rehab. Kelly’s return comes at a crucial time as the D-backs look to continue their impressive form.

D-backs’ winning streak: Driven by the long ball

Arizona has been on a tear lately, winning seven straight series and setting a league record of 26-11 since late June. What’s the reason for their success? Home runs – lots of them. An incredible 36 of their 54 runs in August came from home runs, or 66.7% of their runs – the highest percentage in the major leagues.

Saturday’s 11-1 win over the Phillies was a show of force in which the D-backs hit four home runs, including two by Jake McCarthy, who hit multiple home runs for the first time in his career. Ketel Marte also got in on the act, hitting his 30th home run of the season. However, there is some concern for Marte, who left the game with a bruised left ankle, putting his chance of playing Sunday in doubt.

What’s going on with Ketel Marte’s injury?

Ketel Marte, Arizona’s All-Star second baseman and a key part of their lineup, was forced to leave Saturday’s game after injuring his left ankle. The injury occurred when the Phillies’ Garrett Stubbs slid into second base and caught Marte’s leg. Marte hopes to be back in the game Monday, but his availability for Sunday’s series finale is still uncertain. Manager Torey Lovullo is keeping his fingers crossed that Marte can contribute in some way, but they will keep a close eye on him.

Phillies struggle to find their rhythm at bat

The Phillies are going through a rough patch offensively. After winning the first game of the series 6-4, they have only managed three runs on ten hits in the last two games. Manager Rob Thomson knows the team is struggling and cites a lack of discipline at the plate and the tendency of batters to chase balls as the main problems.

To get back on track, the Phillies need a solid outing from left-hander Cristopher Sanchez, who is scheduled to start Sunday. Sanchez has had brilliant performances this season, like in his last start against the Dodgers, where he allowed just one run in six innings. But his history against the Diamondbacks has been mixed, with a 5.19 ERA in three games. While Sanchez shut Arizona down early this season, throwing seven scoreless innings in a 4-1 victory, he will have to do his best to keep Arizona’s bats quiet.

Pitching duel on Sunday: A rematch to watch

Sunday’s game is shaping up to be a revenge game of sorts from last season’s NLCS, in which Merrill Kelly faced the Phillies twice, holding them to five runs in 10 2/3 innings. Kelly has generally pitched well against Philadelphia in his career, posting a solid 2.75 ERA in three regular-season games. His experience could be game-deciding as he looks to stop a Phillies lineup that has struggled for consistency.

On the other hand, Cristopher Sanchez will look to rebound from his mixed performances against the D-backs. Although he had a strong outing against them earlier this year, his overall record suggests he could be in for a rough time if Arizona’s hitting ability continues.

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Conclusion: What to expect from the series finale

As the Diamondbacks seek their eighth consecutive series win, Merrill Kelly’s return is the cherry on top of an already exciting matchup. Arizona’s recent success has come from powerful hitting and strong pitching, and Kelly’s presence on the mound could give them the edge they need to close out the series with another win.

It’s crucial for the Phillies to get out of their offensive slump. Christopher Sanchez will need to deliver a strong performance and the lineup will need to get back to basics to keep up with Arizona’s rising offense.

With a lot at stake for both teams, Sunday’s game promises to be a nail-biter, with the return of Merrill Kelly and the possible absence of Ketel Marte being key factors to watch.

The Lean

The Diamondbacks will have the edge today when the Phillies come to town. We also lean towards these two teams going over the over/under line of 9 runs. This game features our highest projected hit total and sixth most home runs. Merrill Kelly has the highest innings pitched prediction in the league today and the third best chance to pull out a win.