Phillies vie for 5th straight win against Bauer, Indians

Matt Rappa

April 30 2016

By: Matt Rappa, managing editor

PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (13-10) will look for their third consecutive series victory and fifth straight win overall as they oppose right-hander Trevor Bauer and the Cleveland Indians (10-10) Saturday evening at Citizens Bank Park.

Bauer will make his first start of the season in replacement of former Phillies prospect Carlos Carrasco, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list on April 25 and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a left hamstring strain. He will oppose fellow 2011 amateur draft selection right-hander Jerad Eickoff of the Phillies, who seeks to bounce back from allowing a career-high seven earned runs in his most recent start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was the hero in the series opener on Friday, as he hit his sixth career walk-off home run in the 4-3, 11-inning victory. He is now four home runs shy of tying longtime Houston Astro Lance Berkman for 80th place on the all-time list.

The Phillies have won seven of their last eight games.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Cleveland Indians (10-10)			Philadelphia Phillies (13-10)
RHP	Trevor Bauer		RHP	Jerad Eickhoff
RHP	(1-0, 4.76 ERA)		RHP	(1-3, 4.07 ERA)

Trevor Bauer — Age: 25;

Last Appearance: April 24, 2016, at DET: W, 3.1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 4 SO
Career vs. PHI: (1-0), 1 G, 5.0 IP, H, 0 R, 5 SO, 6 BB, 0.00 ERA

Bauer's only career appearance against the Phillies occurred nearly three years ago — Wednesday, May 1, 2013 — in a 6-0 victory at Progressive Field. The North Hollywood, California, native tossed five shutout innings and allowed just one hit. He walked six batters, however: shortstop Jimmy Rollins, second baseman Chase Utley (2), right fielder Laynce Nix (2) and center fielder Ben Revere.

Jerad Eickhoff — Age: 25;

Last Start: April 24, 2016, at MIL: L, 5.1 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 7 SO, 2 HR
Career vs. CLE: N/A

Eickhoff's only career interleague start came on Sept. 6, 2015, away against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. He tossed a career-low four innings, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks.

The right-hander has allowed 10 extra-base hits over his past two starts: six doubles, one triple and three home runs.

Starting Lineups:

Cleveland Indians (10-10)				Philadelphia Phillies (13-10)
	Position	Player	Bats		Position	Player	Bats
1	CF	Odubel Herrera	L	1	2B	Jason Kipnis	L
2	SS	Freddy Galvis	S	2	SS	Francisco Lindor	S
3	3B	Maikel Franco	R	3	LF	Michael Brantley	L
4	1B	Ryan Howard	L	4	1B	Carlos Santana	S
5	C	Cameron Rupp	R	5	3B	Juan Uribe	R
6	LF	Darin Ruf	R	6	CF	Tyler Naquin	L
7	2B	Cesar Hernandez	S	7	C	Roberto Perez	R
8	P	Jerad Eickhoff	R	8	RF	Lonnie Chisenhall	L
9	RF	Peter Bourjos	R	9	P	Trevor Bauer	R

Broadcast Information:

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

Game Notes:

Outfielders Rajai Davis and Odubel Herrera of the Indians and Phillies are currently tied for the second-longest active hitting streak in Major League Baseball, 10. Herrera has reached base in 20 consecutive games and is one walk shy of tying right fielder Bobby Abreu's franchise record for walks in the month of April, 24. He ranks third throughout Major League Baseball in on-base percentage, .460.

Manager Pete Mackanin's pitching staff currently leads all of Major League Baseball in strikeouts, 240, which is 12 ahead of the Boston Red Sox (228) for second place in the category. They combined for 18 strikeouts in the series opener on Friday, seven of which came from southpaw starter Adam Morgan (career-high) in his season debut.
The Phillies have the fifth-best record in the National League (.565), despite their -18 run differential. They trail the Chicago Cubs (.773, +79), Washington Nationals (.682, +28), New York Mets (.667, +40) and Pittsburgh Pirates (.609, +15).