The Philadelphia Phillies have not won a series since the start of August. They'll try to close out the month on a positive note Friday night against the Chicago Cubs.
The scuffling Phillies enter the weekend three games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. Right-hander Nick Pivetta will face Chicago lefty Jose Quintana in the series opener at Citizens Bank Park.
The first-place Cubs helped out the Phillies on Thursday night with a win over the Braves in a make-up game. The victory in Atlanta kicked off an 11-game, four-city road trip for Chicago (79-54), which is 18-9 in August and has won eight of its last nine games.