Hot pitchers rule Hot-lanta

The Phillies travel to Atlanta on Monday with one of the hottest pitchers on the mound: Zack Wheeler.

Wheeler woke up on April 24 with an ERA of 8.53 after allowing 15 hits and 11 runs in his prior two starts. Since then, he’s been lights out. In his last four starts, Wheeler has allowed just three runs in 26 innings (1.04 ERA). In three of those outings, Wheeler didn’t give up a single run.

Wheeler’s success should continue against a Braves lineup that entered Sunday hitting just .221 and averaging 3.89 runs versus right-handed pitchers this season. Atlanta’s bats have also been quiet against Wheeler in limited action. In 18 career plate appearances, current Braves hitters are batting just .167 against him.

On the bump for the Braves will be lefty Tucker Davidson. Davidson is making just his seventh career start and enters Monday’s matchup with a 5.87 ERA in two outings this season. However, Davidson is coming off an impressive performance in his last start where he held the Brewers scoreless over five innings.

The last three times Wheeler has faced the Braves, the total runs scored in those games were three, six and seven. In Davidson’s one start against the Phillies last season he allowed four hits and no runs over six innings in a 2-1 loss.

Look for another low-scoring game between two pitchers who are in top form.

THE PLAY: Under 8 runs