Phillies @ Braves

Who will WIN this matchup?

Philadelphia Phillies (45-41)

@ Atlanta Braves (51-36)

Starting Pitchers:

Eflin (PHI): 7-7; 3.34 ERA

Soroka (ATL) 9-1; 2.13 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Philadelphia Phillies: 6-4

Atlanta Braves: 6-4

Current odds:

Philadelphia Phillies: (+150)

Atlanta Braves: (-160)

• Turns out the Atlanta Braves needed one game in July before firing up the offense that dominated in June, and head into Thursday’s home series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies looking for a series win after another big offensive performance. The Braves extended their National League East lead over the Phillies to 5? games with Wednesday’s 9-2 victory, getting three-run homers from Josh Donaldson and Austin Riley to win for the 21st time in their past 30 games. Atlanta added a two-run, pinch-hit homer from Matt Joyce in pounding out 10 hits, one night after being shut out for the second time this season, improving to 33-16 in its past 49 games while averaging 5.9 runs and 9.4 hits per game in that span with 86 homers. Wednesday was a milestone night for Philadelphia right fielder Bryce Harper, who recorded his 200th career homer and 1,000th career hit on a solo blast in the sixth.

• The Phillies lost for the third time in their past nine games while being held to six hits after averaging 9.8 in their previous eight. Catcher J.T. Realmuto extended his hitting streak to four games with two hits and is batting .355 in his past nine contests.

• Eflin continues to stabilize a sometimes-shaky Philadelphia rotation, throwing two complete games in his first 16 starts while entering Wednesday ninth in the NL in ERA. The 25-year-old gave up six runs in five innings to the Mets on June 24, but rebounded five days later by holding Miami to three runs on eight hits with one walk in six innings. Eflin, who has pitched to a 1.24 WHIP but has surrendered 15 homers in 97 innings this season, is 2-0 in three career starts with a 1.57 ERA against Atlanta.

• Soroka makes his first start since being named to the NL All-Star team, and the 21-year-old began Wednesday tied for second in the league in wins and would be second in ERA if he had enough innings to qualify. After leaving a June 23 start at Washington when he was hit with a pitch in his right forearm, Soroka held the Mets to two runs on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings Friday. Soroka, who is limiting opponents to a .206 average, makes his first career appearance against the Phillies.

• Wednesday’s loss dropped the Phillies to 18-24 on the road.

• Braves SS Dansby Swanson extended his hitting streak to six games Wednesday and is batting .423 during that stretch.

• Since being swept in the opening series of the season, Atlanta has won three-of-five meetings with Philadelphia and outscored the Phillies 38-19 in that span.