BASEBALL PREVIEW

ATLANTA (Interstat) — The Atlanta Braves host the Philadelphia Phillies in a Sunday doubleheader at Truist Park, with first pitch of the afternoon game at 1:35 p.m. and the nightcap at 7:10 p.m. The forecast calls for rain and 67 degrees.

The Braves (19-8) enter as one of the National League’s top teams, while the Phillies (8-18) are mired in last place in the NL East. Atlanta has won four of the past five meetings between the clubs, including a 5-3 victory Friday. Philadelphia snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Braves with a 2-0 win Saturday.

Left-hander Chris Sale (4-1, 2.12 ERA) is scheduled to start the first game for Philadelphia. Sale has won his past two decisions. Right-hander Aaron Nola (1-2, 4.50) is the probable starter for the second game.

The Braves have not announced their starters for either game.

Shortstop Trea Turner is a player to watch for the Phillies. He went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs in Friday’s loss to Atlanta but is 3-for-26 (.115) over his past seven games.

Right-hander Grant Holmes, who has emerged as a reliable arm for Atlanta, is a candidate to start one of the games. Holmes is 4-1 with a 3.00 ERA and has won three of his past four starts. He allowed three earned runs over six innings in a 5-3 win against the Phillies on Friday.

Atlanta’s lineup is thriving. Ronald Acuña Jr. homered and drove in two runs Friday, and the Braves have outscored Philadelphia 21-8 in the past five head-to-head games.

Philadelphia has lost nine of its past 10 games overall. The Phillies’ offense has scored three runs or fewer in eight of those contests.

Atlanta has won 11 of its past 13 games overall.

The betting line has the Braves as a minus-1.5 favorite, with an over-under of 8 runs. An Interstat game simulator projects a 7-0 Atlanta victory.

Following Sunday’s twin bill, the Phillies return home to host the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. The Braves open a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Truist Park on Tuesday.

A loss Sunday would match Philadelphia’s longest losing streak of the season at four games, while a sweep would push the Braves’ home winning streak to six games.