Lowly Phillies, Giants open 3-game set behind Eickhoff, Blach

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

PHILADELPHIA — Major League Baseball's worst two teams by winning percentage, the San Francisco Giants (22-33, .400) and Philadelphia Phillies (17-34, .333), will square off Friday evening in the first of a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

The series opener will feature a battle between two 26-year-old starters — Giants left-hander Ty Blach and Phillies right-hander Jerad Eickhoff. The series will be a brief three-game home stint for the Phillies, before they hit the road for their first series ever at the Atlanta Braves' 41,000-seat SunTrust Park, followed by a road set against the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Phillies enter June play coming off of their worst calendar month since June of 1997, winning just six of their 28 contests in May. Phillies pitching combined for the worst team ERA in baseball (5.53), as their starters went 2-16 with a 6.55 ERA. The club has lost 10 straight series overall.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Blach Career vs. PHI: N/A

Blach will make his first career appearance against the Phillies. The 26-year old southpaw began the season as a late-inning reliever, when in seven appearances and 5 2/3 innings from April 2 to April 21 he allowed three runs on three hits, three walks and two strikeouts with a 4.76 ERA. All three of Blach's earned runs as a reliever came in a road appearance against their division-rival Arizona Diamondbacks on April 6.

Upon the April 20 injury of LHP Madison Bumgarner — who suffered bruised ribs and a Grade 2 strain of his left shoulder AC joint in a dirt bike accident — Giants manager Bruce Bochy turned to Blach to replace the four-time All-Star in the rotation. In seven starts since April 25, Blach is 3-2 with a 3.71 ERA, allowing 20 runs (18 earned) on 42 hits, 10 walks, 17 strikeouts and four home runs. Of the seven starts, Blach has thrown at least seven innings in five and has allowed more than three runs just once.

The Denver, Colorado native has nine career appearances at home (44 innings) and nine on the road (22 1/3 innings), posting 1.43 and 6.45 respective ERAs.

Eickhoff Career vs. SF: N/A

Eickhoff has now tossed 12 starts since his last win on Sept. 21 of last season. The right-hander went 0-2 with a 3.56 ERA, 28 strikeouts and a .235/.297/.383 opposing slash in April (30 1/3 innings). In 26 2/3 May innings, however, Eickhoff fared much worse, going 0-3 with a 6.08 ERA, 23 strikeouts and a .325/.371/.491 opposing slash.

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
• TV: NBC10
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• The Phillies and Giants split their six meetings in 2016 with each team taking two of three games at their home venue. Philadelphia outscored San Francisco 34-30, but was outhit 59-56.
• The only Phillie to have previously faced Blach is INF/OF Howie Kendrick, who went 0-4 with a strikeout last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Likewise, the only Giant to have previously faced Eickhoff is infielder Aaron Hill, going 1-5 with a double and two RBIs in two games last season with the Milwaukee Brewers.
• Phillies outfielder Aaron Altherr has a hit in each of his last six games and has reached base safely in each of his last 10. Altherr's .388 on-base percentage ranks fourth among all National League outfielders, trailing just Bryce Harper (.438), Eric Thames (.412) and Michael Conforto (.406).

NL East Standings (entering June 2, 2017)

What's Next:

• Saturday, June 3, 2017: vs. San Francisco Giants, 4:05 p.m.
• Citizens Bank Park
• RHP Johnny Cueto (5-4, 4.37 ERA) vs. TBA
• TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP