White Sox @ Phillies

Who will WIN this matchup?

Chicago White Sox (46-60)

@ Philadelphia Phillies (57-51)

Starting Pitchers:

Nova (CHW): 6-9; 5.23 ERA

Vargas (PHI) 6-5; 4.01 ERA

Last 10 Games Played:

Chicago White Sox: 2-8

Philadelphia Phillies: 6-4

Current odds:

Chicago White Sox: (+171)

Philadelphia Phillies: (-181)

• The Philadelphia Phillies have won eight of their last 12 contests to elevate themselves into a share of the top wild-card spot in the National League. The Phillies aim to continue their ascent on Friday when they send recent trade acquisition Jason Vargas to the mound to face the visiting Chicago White Sox in the opener of a three-game series. J.T. Realmuto belted a three-run homer to highlight his three-hit performance in Thursday afternoon’s 10-2 victory versus San Francisco, helping Philadelphia record its first series win against a team with a winning record in nearly two months. The 28-year-old Realmuto is 9-for-20 with five extra-base hits (three homers, two doubles) during his five-game hitting streak, although he is 0-for-6 in his career versus Friday starter Ivan Nova.

• While the Phillies are heating up, the ice-cold White Sox were unceremoniously swept by another National League East representative to plummet to 4-16 since the All-Star break. Leury Garcia is 11-for-34 during his eight-game hitting streak for Chicago, which dropped a 4-0 setback to the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon to fall a season-low 14 games under .500.

• Nova answered a 1-4 stretch over five starts with two dominant performances in his last two trips to the mound. The 32-year-old Dominican allowed one run on four hits in a complete-game gem against Miami on July 22 before returning five days later to permit one run on two hits in six frames of a 5-1 victory versus Minnesota. Bryce Harper is 6-for-13 with four extra-base hits (two homers, two doubles) against Nova, who owns a 2-1 mark with a 2.53 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in five career starts versus the club.

• Vargas won his third straight start with the Mets after tossing 5 2/3 strong innings against Pittsburgh on Sunday before becoming expendable following the club’s acquisition of right-hander Marcus Stroman from Toronto. “He’s a soft-tossing lefty,” Phillies general manager Matt Klentak said of the 36-year-old Vargas. “We have a lot of hard-throwing righties. He’s a good complement to our pitching staff.” Vargas is taking the spot in the rotation of Zach Eflin, who has posted a bloated 10.46 ERA over his last six starts.

• Philadelphia 2B Cesar Hernandez has five multi-hit performances in his last six starts.

• Chicago DH Jose Abreu is 3-for-31 with eight strikeouts in his last eight games.

• The Phillies own a 7-3 mark in interleague play while the White Sox are 4-10.