(Photo credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Phillies are holding a pair of aces, and they hope a win is in the cards on Sunday afternoon when they conclude their three-game series with the visiting Cleveland Guardians.

The Phillies' starting pitching has been on full display in the first two games of the weekend series. Cristopher Sanchez logged eight scoreless innings Friday in his team's 1-0 defeat, and Zack Wheeler blanked the Guardians over six frames in a 3-0 triumph Saturday.

'I think everybody feeds off each other, you know?' Wheeler said. 'You always try to beat the guy the day before you. He's pretty hard to beat right now, but you've got to go out there and try. ... Whatever run he's been on, it's pretty special. It's almost unmatchable.'

Wheeler has a 1.67 ERA this season, while Sanchez's mark is even better at 1.62. Sanchez also is riding a scoreless streak of 37 2/3 innings.

The Guardians managed only three hits against Wheeler and a trio of relievers in Saturday's setback. One hit was by impressive rookie Travis Bazzana, who doubled against hard-throwing closer Jhoan Duran in the ninth inning.

'Just felt like it was a good time for Travis to get an opportunity tonight,' Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said Saturday regarding Bazzana batting in the leadoff position. 'Don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. We're trying to look to see how this group fits together the best.'

Saturday's outcome snapped the Guardians' seven-game winning streak. It also halted the Phillies' three-game skid.

Philadelphia hopes to begin a new winning streak with rookie Andrew Painter (1-4, 5.77 ERA) on the mound on Sunday.

The 23-year-old right-hander is coming off back-to-back productive outings. Most recently, he yielded two runs in a career-high six innings Monday in a no-decision against the Cincinnati Reds. Philadelphia won 5-4.

'He looks really good,' Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott said. 'He's got elite stuff, and I think once he knows that, I think you'll see a lot more outings like this.'

Stott has 20 RBIs in 21 games this month, including a two-run single to spark Philadelphia in Saturday's victory. He'll hope to continue that run as he faces Cleveland left-hander Parker Messick (5-1, 2.45 ERA) in the series finale.

Messick has walked three batters in each of his last two starts, although he limited the damage in each outing. He gave up three runs -- two earned -- in five innings Tuesday against the Detroit Tigers in a game the Guardians won 4-3.

'Probably some of the worst command we've seen Parker have, but for him to be able to keep getting outs and keep them off the board the way he did, I thought he and (catcher Austin Hedges) worked excellent together,' Vogt said after the game. 'Just the command we saw from Parker tonight wasn't what we're used to.'

Messick and Painter both will face the opponent for the first time in their careers.

Bryce Harper had three hits and scored twice for the Phillies on Saturday. But Kyle Schwarber struck out three times, giving him 11 punchouts in his last three games.

For Cleveland, Kyle Manzardo will look to bounce back after going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts Saturday. On Friday night, Manzardo hit a pinch-hit homer off Duran in the ninth to score the game's only run.

--Field Level Media