Phillies
Phillies tab Eflin for 5th start as series continues against Dodgers
Published30 May 2018
By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies (30-22) will continue their 10-game, 11-day road trip on Wednesday, as RHP Zach Eflin opposes RHP Ross Stripling and the Los Angeles Dodgers (25-29) in the third of a four-game set at Dodger Stadium.
The Phillies evened the series and snapped a four-game Dodger Stadium skid on Tuesday with a 6-1 victory. Starter Jake Arrieta tossed seven shutout innings and earned his fifth victory, while opposing starter Kenta Maeda lasted just 1 2/3 innings due to a strained right hip. Phillies utility player Pedro Florimon also exited early with a broken right foot. Nick Williams got scoring going early in the second with a solo home run, and the Phillies never looked back, with RBI singles by Odubel Herrera and Maikel Franco, and RBI doubles by Jorge Alfaro and Carlos Santana added later in the contest.
Prior to the game, Mitch Walding received the call-up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace Florimon on the 25-man roster. Walding will make his big league debut as the starting third baseman. In a corresponding move, Jerad Eickhoff (lat) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.
The Phillies sit in third place in the National League (NL) East, and trail the division-leading Atlanta Braves by one game. Overall in the NL, the Phillies rank fourth in winning percentage (.577) and run differential (+42).
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (30-22) | Los Angeles Dodgers (25-29) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Zach Eflin | RHP | Ross Stripling | ||
| (1-1, 3.27 ERA) | (2-1, 1.74 ERA) | ||||
RHP Zach Eflin, Age: 24
- Career vs. LAD: 0-1, 8.10 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 10 IP, 11 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 5 HR, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1.300 WHIP
- Career at Dodger Stadium: 0-1, 8.10 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 10 IP, 11 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 5 HR, 2 BB, 4 SO, 1.300 WHIP
Eflin will make his third career start at Dodger Stadium and his fifth start overall this season. The right-hander surrendered five extra-base hits in his most recent outing, May 25 against the Toronto Blue Jays.
RHP Ross Stripling, Age: 28
- Career vs. PHI: 0-0, 6.14 ERA, 3 G, 1 GS, 7 1/3 IP, 11 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 3 HR, 4 BB, 6 SO, 2.045 WHIP
- Career at Dodger Stadium: 7-5, 3.12 ERA, 40 G, 11 GS, 112 2/3 IP, 110 H, 40 R, 39 ER, 9 HR, 28 BB, 104 SO, 1.225 WHIP
Stripling is coming off of a career-high 10-strikeout performance against the San Diego Padres on May 25. Through five starts this season, Stripling is 2-1 with a 2.42 ERA, 33-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.192 WHIP spanning 26 innings.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (30-22) | Los Angeles Dodgers (25-29) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | LF | Joc Pederson | L |
| 2 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 2 | 1B | Max Muncy | L |
| 3 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 3 | C | Yasmani Grandal | S |
| 4 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 4 | RF | Matt Kemp | R |
| 5 | LF | Nick Williams | L | 5 | CF | Cody Bellinger | L |
| 6 | SS | Scott Kingery | R | 6 | SS | Chris Taylor | R |
| 7 | 3B | Mitch Walding | L | 7 | 3B | Breyvic Valera | S |
| 8 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R | 8 | 2B | Logan Forsythe | R |
| 9 | P | Zach Eflin | R | 9 | P | Ross Stripling | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 10:10 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies look to snap a three-series skid at Dodger Stadium by securing at least a tie on Wednesday. The club last won a road series opposite the Dodgers on April 21-24, 2014.
- 2018 Phillies record, by month: March (1-2), April (15-10), May (14-10).
- Over their last 21 games, since May 5, Phillies starting pitching has posted a combined 1.98 ERA (27 ER, 123 IP). They have allowed two earned runs or fewer in 18 of the 21 starts.
- Phillies outfielder Aaron Altherr is 3-3 lifetime against Stripling with a home run and three RBI. Chase Utley, meanwhile, is 2-5 in his career against Eflin with a double and solo home run.
What's Next:
Thursday, May 31, 2018: at Los Angeles Dodgers, 7:35 p.m.
- Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
- RHP Aaron Nola (6-2, 2.27 ERA) vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-4, 2.86 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP, MLBN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
