Phillies turn to Hellickson, look to salvage series finale against Miller, D-backs

By: Matt Rappa, managing editor

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (30-40) will send seven-year veteran RHP Jeremy Hellickson to the mound against RHP Shelby Miller and the Arizona Diamondbacks (32-39) in a Monday matinee and series finale matchup at Citizens Bank Park.

Since May 21, the Phillies have won just six of 28 games. Over this stretch, their offense ranks last in WAR (-44.1), batting average (.213), on-base percentage (.258), hits (192), runs scored (83), runs-batted-in (80) and walks (52). Their pitching has not been much better, with a fourth-worst ERA (5.13), third-worst WAR (0.2) and the fifth-most earned runs allowed (139).

Having dropped each of the first three of the four-game series, outscored 19-4, the Phillies lost their first home series loss to the Diamondbacks since May 28-30, 2007. The Phillies had won each of the previous eight home series against them since.

Hellickson will look to salvage the series and avoid the Phillies being swept for the sixth time this season. A loss would also secure the Phillies their first winless homestand of six or more games since Sept. 21-27, 1964, at Connie Mack Stadium.

The Phillies will wear their alternate Business Persons Special red jerseys for the fourth time this season, having gone 2-1 so far wearing them.


Starting Pitching Matchup:

Arizona Diamondbacks (32-39) Philadelphia Phillies (30-40)
RHP Shelby Miller RHP Jeremy Hellickson
(1-6, 7.09 ERA) (4-5, 4.46 ERA)

Shelby Miller — Age: 25;

  • Last Start: May 24, 2016, at PIT: L, 5.0 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO, HR
  • Career vs. PHI: (3-2), 7 G, 46.0 IP, 39 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 12 BB, 36 SO, 4 HR, 2.54 ERA

Miller rejoins the Diamondbacks for his 11th start of the season after missing more than three weeks with an injured right index finger. In a corresponding move, infielder-outfielder Brandon Drury — who went 2-4 with a double and two runs scored against the Phillies on Sunday and batted .275/.313/.456 this season over 217 plate appearances — was optioned down to Triple-A Reno.

Over his last six starts, Miller is 1-5 with a 6.39 ERA and opposing slash of .319/.407/.487 in 31 innings. The Houston, Texas, native is 3-2 with a 2.54 ERA and 1.109 WHIP in seven career starts against the Phillies, three of which have occurred at Citizens Bank Park.

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Jeremy Hellickson — Age: 29;

  • Last Start: June 15, 2016, vs. TOR: L, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO, HR
  • Career vs. ARI: (0-2), 2 G, 9.0 IP, 12 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 5 BB, 4 SO, 2 HR, 9.00 ERA

Hellickson faces his former 2015 club for the first time since being dealt to the Phillies on Nov. 14 in exchange for minor-league RHP Sam McWilliams, the Phillies' eighth round selection of the 2014 draft. McWilliams made his Diamondbacks organizational debut with Single-A Kane County on Friday and allowed two runs on two hits and two walks over five innings and four strikeouts.

In seven career starts at Citizens Bank Park — all of which have occurred this season in red pinstripes — Hellickson is 2-2 with a 4.46 ERA and 1.330 WHIP ratio. He also has nearly one strikeout for every inning pitched, 0.991.

The Phillies have lost each of Hellickson's last five starts, with the right-hander surrendering 18 runs and six home runs spanning 31 innings for a 5.23 ERA and 0-3 win-loss record.


Starting Lineups:

Arizona Diamondbacks (32-39) Philadelphia Phillies (30-40)
  Position Player Bats   Position Player Bats
1 2B Jean Segura R 1 2B Cesar Hernandez S
2 1B Phil Gosselin R 2 SS Freddy Galvis S
3 3B Jake Lamb L 3 CF Odubel Herrera L
4 LF Rickie Weeks Jr. R 4 3B Andres Blanco S
5 C Welington Castillo R 5 1B Tommy Joseph R
6 CF Socrates Brito L 6 C Cameron Rupp R
7 RF Yasmany Tomas R 7 LF Tyler Goeddel R
8 SS Nick Ahmed R 8 P Jeremy Hellickson R
9 P Shelby Miller R 9 RF Peter Bourjos R




Broadcast Information:

  • First pitch: 1:05 p.m.
  • TV: CSN, MLBN
  • Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

  • The Phillies have lost six consecutive home games in a single season for the first time since June 27 to July 21, 2012. They have scored two runs or fewer in each of the half-dozen defeats (nine runs scored, 47 runs allowed).
  • In the month of June, Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis is batting .097/.152/.161 with four singles, a double, home run, four walks and five runs-batted-in spanning 67 plate appearances. His batting average is the worst in Major League Baseball among the 193 batters which are qualified, according to FanGraphs.
  • The Phillies are in a franchise-first stretch of wearing five different uniforms in as many consecutive games, notes mlb.com.
    • Friday vs. ARI: traditional white uniforms with red pinstripes.
    • Saturday vs. ARI: alternate cream-colored uniforms introduced in Nov. 2007.
    • Sunday vs. ARI: blue-accented Father's Day uniforms
    • Today vs. ARI: alternate day game red jerseys
    • Tomorrow at MIN: traditional road gray uniforms.

Standings:

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(entering June 20, 2016)


What's Next:

  • Tuesday, June 21, 2016: at Minnesota Twins, 8:10 p.m.
    • Target Field
    • RHP Aaron Nola (5-6, 3.51 ERA) vs. RHP Tyler Duffey (2-6, 5.56 ERA)
    • TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
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