Phillies send Williams to mound in rubber match with Braves

Ryan Howard's second home run of the season wasn't enough as the Phillies (6-12) bullpen let a 2-0 lead slip on Saturday night.

The series against the Atlanta Braves (9-8), as well as the Phillies home schedule in April, comes complete on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:35 p.m.

Starting Pitching Matchup

Jerome Williams was last on the mound for the Phillies 7-3 win over the Marlins on Tuesday, allowing three runs – two earned – on eight hits in six innings. In eight games and seven career starts against the Braves, Williams is 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA.  

Starting Lineups

Two noticeable changes to the Phillies lineup for Sunday's series finale. The hot-hitting Cody Asche has cooled in recent games, so he gets a day off for Cesar Hernandez. Cameron Rupp also gets the start at catcher over Carlos Ruiz, who has also been slumping. After leaving Saturday's game early, Freddy Galvis returns to the starting lineup.

A solid night for Kelly Johnson on Saturday gets him moved up to the cleanup spot as A.J. Pierzynski gets a day off and Christian Bethancourt comes in. Jace Peterson also moves up one spot in the lineup. The rest of the Braves lineup remains the same.

Game Notes

• Phillies vs. Cahill
• Chase Utley: 3-for-10 (.300), 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 2 K
• Carlos Ruiz: 4-for-10 (.400), 1 2B, 2 RBI, 1 K
• Jeff Francoeur: 2-for-4 (.500), 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
• Braves vs. Williams
  • Kelly Johnson: 8-for-21 (.381), 1 RBI, 3 BB, 4 K
  • A.J. Pierzynski: 3-for-17 (.176), 1 RBI, 2 K
  • Nick Markakis: 6-for-13 (.462), 1 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K
• A win would give the Phillies their first home series victory against the Braves since September 2013. The Phillies won just two of 10 home games against the Braves last season and are 1-1 this season.
• In both games of this series, the starting pitcher has pitched more than six innings. That has only happened in four of the Phillies 18 games this season. Saturday's game was the first the Phillies lost when a pitcher went beyond the six-inning mark.
• The Phillies have scored three runs or less in 13 of their 18 games this season, ranking last in the majors with 44 runs scored.

Gametime: 1:35 p.m.
Weather: 60 degrees, partly cloudy, 0% PoP
Location: Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
TV: CSN, MLB Network
Radio: 1210 WPHT, 94 WIP, SBP 1480 (Spanish)

Kevin Durso is a contributing writer and editorial assistant for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.