Gameday 2018: Phillies (24-16) at Cardinals (23-17)

Ah, time for the annual 71-game series in St. Louis. I wrote earlier today about how annoying those series have been for the Phillies, and how they typically foretell the rest of the season.

Of course, in recent years the Phillies haven’t been good. This year is different, as after 40 games the Phils have won 60 percent of contests. That’s one of the top-five rates in baseball. I said early this year that the first quarter of the season had to be successful for the Phils to dream of contention, and so far that’s what’s happened. Now we enter a tough 40-game stretch that starts, of course, with the annual 71-game series in St. Louis.

I really think this is the first big series of the season. It should be fun.

Gametime: 7:15 p.m.

The lineup:

1. Hernandez – 2B
2. Altherr – RF
3. Herrera – CF
4. Hoskins – LF
5. Santana – 1B
6. Franco – 3B
7. Kingery – SS
8. Alfaro – C
9. Velasquez – P

Pitchers: Vince Velasquez (3-4, 5.05 ERA) vs. Luke Weaver (3-2, 4.91 ERA)

Substantial moment here for Velasquez in an attempt to follow up his last performance, which started shakily but ended with 12 strikeouts and a win over San Francisco. I feel as if Rhys Hoskins is starting to heat up again, so I would’ve liked to see him hitting second tonight.

Your Gameday Beer: Thunder Hole AleLet’s go with a brown ale tonight, something for easy sipping and long-lasting enjoyment. Here’s from Bar Harbor Brewing Co. up in Maine. I had this when I visited Acadia National Park recently, and it wasn’t bad. Nice sweetness on the back end, but not cloying. I’d have two for sure. Pair it with pulled pork or a salad chock full o’nuts (not the coffee).

Go Phillies!