Phillies visit Brewers looking for 2nd straight win

The Philadelphia Phillies will look for their second consecutive victory when they open a three-game series on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

The Phillies salvaged a split of a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs with a 9-7 win on Thursday. The Phillies jumped out to a 7-0 lead and had to hold on for the win.

Jean Segura extended his hitting streak to 14 games in a row, and the Phillies escaped after using five relievers. Segura also has 18 multi-hit games this season.

The Phillies will attempt to move above .500 on the road with a win against the Brewers. They're 11-11 following the two-run victory Thursday.

But it will be difficult with a tired bullpen.

"I think I've been pretty consistent with the approach of aggressively going after wins when we can lock 'em down," Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said. "I think you always want to balance winning tonight's baseball game when winning a series."

The Phillies will hand the ball to right-hander Jerad Eickhoff, who's 2-2 with a 3.23 ERA. Eickhoff, who has allowed nine runs in his last two starts, owns a 6.55 ERA in four career starts (1-3) against the Brewers.

Last Sunday in a 7-5 win over the Colorado Rockies, Eickhoff tossed five innings and gave up four runs. Eickhoff has surrendered five homers in his last two starts.

Following the five-inning performance, Eickhoff said that he was unhappy with the lack of execution deep into the game.

"It just can't happen," he told reporters.

The Phillies recently dropped three of four in a home series against Milwaukee.

The Brewers will open this series potentially without Christian Yelich. He missed the past two games with back spasms, and it's unclear if he'll be in the lineup Friday.

Yelich is hitting .325 and has 19 home runs and 41 RBI.

Yelich has missed time earlier this season with back issues, and manager Craig Counsell was asked if he's worried about his All-Star.

"I don't think chronic is the right word," Counsell told reporters. "I think his back is an issue but this is not a structural issue. When you talk about backs, you have to be careful how you phrase this. He's had some muscle issues in his back. They have been short-term, five-day injuries. That's not a chronic characterization for me."

Yelich is hopeful to return against the Phillies on Friday.

"Day-to-day, man," Yelich told reporters. "We're trying to get it right. Hopefully, I'll be back there Friday."

In addition, Ryan Braun is questionable with a balky knee.

"His knee has been a little cranky the last five or so days," Counsell said. "Just making sure we stay ahead of this."

Chase Anderson, who's 2-0 with a 2.66 ERA, will start for the Brewers. Anderson has only allowed two earned runs over the last 13 2/3 innings since returning from the injured list.

Anderson is 1/3 with a 6.75 ERA in five career starts against the Phillies.

In last Saturday's 4-3 loss at Atlanta, Anderson lasted only four innings and gave up two hits and one run while walking four and striking out three.

--Field Level Media