The set-up: Break up the Phillies The Phillies open a seven-game road trip Friday night at Dodger Stadium against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Phils are riding a six-game winning streak, which puts them at 11-9. The Phillies are brimming with confidence, sitting two games above .500 for the first since Memorial Day weekend in 2016. Meanwhile, the Dodgers have lost seven of 11 and open the series at 11-12.

The pitching matchup: Jerad Eickhoff (0-1 & 2.55 ERA) will get the ball for Philadelphia up against the struggling Kenta Maeda (1-2 & 8.05 ERA) of the Dodgers. Eickhoff opened the season with three quality starts in a row and although that streak was snapped in his last outing, Eickhoff tied his season high with seven strikeouts while allowing one run on two hits over five innings against Atlanta. Despite opening with those three straight quality starts, Eickhoff had three consecutive no-decisions. He deserved better, giving up just five ERs over 18 innings with the team losing all three games! He's made just one career start against the Dodgers, allowing two HRs and four runs (6.00 ERA) in another no-decision, although Philly won that game. Maeda won 16 games as a rookie in 2016 but he is struggling during his sophomore campaign, failing to pitch beyond five innings in each of his first four starts. He was hammered in his last outing at Arizona, surrendering a career-worst four HRs and giving up six runs (also a career high) on nine hits over five innings. He won both of his starts against the Phillies last season, but allowed four HRs and posted a 4.19 ERA.

The pick: Philadelphia opened the 2017 season with a three-game set against the Reds but followed with 17 in a row against NL East opponents. However, this visit to LA followed with a four-game set at the Chicago Cubs, will test these over-achievers, who are off to their best 20-game start since 2011. The Dodgers were an impressive 53-28 at home last season, while the Phillies were 34-47 on the road. Make the Dodgers a 6* play.