Both teams were off Thursday, although the Phillies weren't supposed to be. Their game at the Mets was rained out. This will mark 572 days since the Phillies last played a club that wasn’t an East Coast team. The Phils have been one of the best home teams in the majors since 2018 and are 5-1 at Citizens Bank Park in 2021. They start Zach Eflin, who has 3.49 ERA in his past 20 outings and the Phils are 13-7 in them. He is always much better at home than away. The Cards' Carlos Martinez (0-2, 6.30) hasn't been a good starter since 2018. Bryce Harper has two homers off him in seven at-bats.

The Cardinals have allowed 32 runs over their last five games and their pitching staff ranks 28th with a WHIP of 1.47. Carlos Martinez had a terrible 2020 season and this season has started the same way: 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA. The Phillies struggled big-time against the Mets, scoring four runs while losing all three road games, but this is a good spot for their bats to wake up. Bryce Harper has two homers in seven career at-bats versus Martinez. With Philadelphia's Zach Eflin in much better current form, I'll back the home favorite.