The Philadelphia Phillies are back in first place in the National League East and the ultimate task is staying there.
The Phillies hold a half-game lead over the New York Mets as they enter a three-game home series against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night.
Philadelphia took two of three from the American League Central-leading Detroit Tigers over the weekend, including a 2-0 win on Sunday night.
Kyle Schwarber clubbed his 38th homer of the season to match Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL lead.
Schwarber likes what he sees from a team eyeing a fourth straight playoff berth.
“The biggest thing is we have a group where we know we can go really far in the playoffs and be where we want to be,” Schwarber said afterward. “It’s a day-by-day challenge. Obviously, we have our goals before that. We want to win our division.”
New closer Jhoan Duran notched his second straight save Sunday since being acquired from the Minnesota Twins before the trade deadline.
“I think the overall message was we got a guy in the back end of the bullpen to where we know that if you hand him the ball, it’s going to be tough to beat the guy,” Schwarber said of Duran.
The Orioles have lost three of their last four games, including a painful 5-3 loss to the Cubs on Sunday when Chicago pinch hitter Justin Turner hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Baltimore traded center fielder Cedric Mullins to the New York Mets and right fielder Ramon Laureano and first baseman Ryan O’Hearn to the San Diego Padres at the deadline, so there are openings in the lineup.
One player who will receive a long look is Jeremiah Jackson, a second baseman whose path is blocked by youngster Jackson Holliday.
Though he played in the outfield for just three games in the minors this season, Jackson was recalled after the deadline deals and started in right field for the final two games of the three-game set against the Cubs with Tyler O’Neill (illness) out of the lineup.
Jackson, 25, was the designated hitter Friday in his big league debut. He went 3-for-8 with a walk in the series. Jackson batted fifth on Sunday.
“Really just sticking to an approach,” Jackson told reporters. “Just being ready and competing in the box, I think that’s really been the biggest separator for me.”
Interim manager Tony Mansolino said Jackson was a great fit for the No. 5 hole.
“I just need someone to make contact in that five-hole right there,” Mansolino said. “You’ve got your four best hitters, and the odds are if you’re going to create traffic, it’s going to be with those four guys at the top. Whoever is sitting in that five-hole has got to put the ball in play. …”
Orioles left-hander Cade Povich (2-5, 5.15 ERA) will be activated off the 10-day injured list Monday to start against Philadelphia.
Povich, 25, has been sidelined since mid-June due to hip inflammation. His last appearance came in relief when he pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings against the Los Angeles Angels to get the win.
Povich has never faced the Phillies.
His lone win in 12 starts this season came against the Washington Nationals on April 24.
Philadelphia counters with left-hander Jesus Luzardo (9-5, 4.31), who blanked the Chicago White Sox on two hits over seven innings in a 6-3 win on Tuesday.
Luzardo, 27, hasn’t allowed an earned run in five of his victories and gave up just one run in three others.
Luzardo is 0-2 with a 5.59 ERA in 9 2/3 innings over two career starts against the Orioles.
–Field Level Media
