Phillies: Five players to watch in the Cubs series this weekend

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PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 26: Rhys Hoskins #17 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a two run home run in the bottom of the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citizens Bank Park on August 26, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Rhys Hoskins

Rhys Hoskins was still recovering from a broken jaw the last time the Phillies and Cubs played, so you have to go back almost exactly a year to the last (and only) time Hoskins played the Cubs. Let me give you a refresher on what Hoskins was doing at the time:

Hoskins was at the peak of his ridiculous major-league debut when the Cubs came to Philadelphia for Players Weekend last year. He ripped off a home run in each game to cap off a five-game home run streak and his record-setting 11th home run in his first 18 games. Boy, would that be nice to see again.

Unfortunately, this August did not go as well for Hoskins. He has a .223/.327/.447 line with six home runs and 13 runs batted in. He is suffering from a .217 batting average on balls in play this month, well below his season-long BABIP of .288. His 109 wRC+ in August is still above league-average, which is more than we can say for most of the team.

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Obviously, seeing Hoskins repeat what he did against the Cubs last year would be huge. If the Phillies are going to climb back into the playoff race, Hoskins needs to be on fire in September, starting with this weekend’s series.

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