(Photo credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)

The Philadelphia Phillies are beginning to create a bit of separation in the National League East.

The first-place Phillies will look for their fourth straight victory on Wednesday when they wrap up their home series with the Baltimore Orioles.

Philadelphia's improved play of late has coincided with a rough stretch by the New York Mets, who have lost seven of their past eight games. The result is a 2 1/2-game division lead for the Phillies.

Philadelphia won the first two games of its series with Baltimore by the combined margin of 18-3. Max Kepler hit a two-run homer and Brandon Marsh added a solo shot to highlight the offensive effort in a 5-0 triumph on Tuesday.

'I'm just happy to still be here and watch these guys ball,' Kepler said. 'At the end of the day, we got a 'W' -- and I think the Mets just lost. So, good day.'

On the other end of the spectrum, the Orioles have lost five of their past six games as their nightmare season continues. They managed only five hits on Tuesday against veteran starter Taijuan Walker and three Philadelphia relievers.

Baltimore's Colton Cowser struck out twice in the defeat, and he has fanned multiple times in each of his past six games. He is 2-for-19 with 13 strikeouts over that stretch. Meanwhile, Jackson Holliday is just 2-for-20 this month.

'We definitely had higher expectations for where we'd be at this time at the beginning of the year,' Baltimore catcher Adley Rutschman said.

One bright spot for the Orioles this season has been left-hander Trevor Rogers (4-2, 1.44 ERA), who has been terrific over his past two outings. He concluded July by holding the Colorado Rockies to one hit over seven scoreless innings, and then he limited the Chicago Cubs to one run and four hits over eight frames on Friday in his latest start.

'I think the sky's the limit for the guy,' interim manager Tony Mansolino said after Rogers' most recent outing. 'He has to continue to work and do the things that he's done to get himself to this point, but we love right where he's at right now. But, if he gets better, that's OK, too.'

Rogers, who pitched for the Miami Marlins from 2020-24, has not had much success against the Phillies. In 11 career starts vs. Philadelphia, the left-hander is 1-6 with a 6.71 ERA.

The Phillies are expected to pack the lineup with right-handed hitters against Rogers. That likely means another start in the outfield for Harrison Bader, who hit a three-run homer in the series opener -- his first hit since joining Philadelphia in a trade with the Minnesota Twins.

The hosts will give the ball to left-hander Ranger Suarez (8-4, 2.68 ERA), who has allowed more than three runs in only two of his 16 starts. He gave up three runs on Friday against the Detroit Tigers, limiting the AL Central leaders to four hits and no walks over seven innings.

'Ranger was very good -- a lot better -- tonight,' Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said following that contest. 'Velocity was good. Command was outstanding. Kept them off-balance.'

Suarez is 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA in three lifetime starts against Baltimore.

--Field Level Media