By: Matt Rappa, managing editor 
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (2-4) and right-hander Aaron Nola will look to snap their four-game home opener losing skid, as they oppose right-hander Andrew Cashner and the San Diego Padres (2-4) Monday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.
After being shutout in three consecutive games against the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the season, the Padres scored a combined 32 runs in their most recent road series against the Colorado Rockies to level their season average to 5.3 produced runs per contest. The Phillies on the other hand, having won two consecutive games after dropping their first four, are averaging three runs per game this season.
Kane Kalas, the son of the late Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas, will perform the National Anthem, followed by the United States Navy Parachute Team—the Leap Frogs—delivering the first balls. Philadelphia Police Officer Jesse Hartnett, who suffered three gunshot wounds to his left arm while on duty in January, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
Also throwing out the first pitch will be two members from the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball National Champion Villanova Wildcats, Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu.
A moment of silence will also be held for the late Philadelphia Flyers chairman and founder Ed Snider, who passed away Monday morning after a two-year battle with bladder cancer. (See press release for full list of Opening Day events).
The Phillies have won seven of their last eight home meetings against the Padres.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| San Diego Padres (2-4) | Philadelphia Phillies (2-4) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Andrew Cashner | RHP | Aaron Nola | ||
| (0-1, 11.25 ERA) | (0-0, 1.29 ERA) | ||||
Andrew Cashner — Age: 29;
- Last Start: April 6, 2016, vs. LAD: L, 4.0 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO, HR
- Career vs. PHI: (2-1), 9 G, 28.0 IP, 18 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 22 SO, 3 HR, 1.93 ERA
Cashner will make his third career appearance at Citizens Bank Park, where in his previous two he appeared as both a reliever and starting pitcher on May 12, 2012, and September 10, 2013, respectively.
The seven-year veteran has recently been surfaced in an offseason trade rumor that would have sent him to the Texas Rangers, however concerns about his arm "scuttled that," according to ESPN. Catcher Derek Norris also would have been sent to Texas, with former top prospect Jurickson Profar heading to San Diego. Profar, who was previously linked to the Phillies in both Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels trade rumors, has not appeared in a Major League game since Sept. 27, 2013.
Aaron Nola — Age: 22;
- Last Start: April 6, 2016, at CIN: ND, 7.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 0 BB, 8 SO, HR
- Career vs. SD: (1-0), 2 G, 13.0 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 12 SO, HR, 2.77 ERA
Nola is coming off of a career-high eight strikeout performance against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday in the Phillies' second game of the season. He received a no-decision, as the Phillies went on to lose, 3-2.
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native earns a start in the Phillies' home opener in what will be just his 15th Major League start. He is the Phillies' seventh unique home opener starting pitcher in Citizens Bank Park history.
Starting Lineups:
| San Diego Padres (2-4) | Philadelphia Phillies (2-4) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Jon Jay | L | 1 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 2 | 2B | Cory Spangenberg | L | 2 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 3 | RF | Matt Kemp | R | 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 4 | LF | Wil Myers | R | 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 5 | 1B | Brett Wallace | L | 5 | 1B | Ryan Howard | L |
| 6 | C | Derek Norris | R | 6 | C | Cameron Rupp | R |
| 7 | SS | Alexei Ramirez | R | 7 | LF | Cedric Hunter | L |
| 8 | 3B | Alexi Amarista | L | 8 | RF | Peter Bourjos | R |
| 9 | P | Andrew Cashner | R | 9 | P | Aaron Nola | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 3:05 p.m.
- TV: NBC10
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Padres' pitching staff currently has the fourth-worst ERA, 6.62 (53.0 innings, 39 earned runs). In just 2 2/3 fewer innings, the Phillies have a 4.65 team ERA with 13 fewer surrendered earned runs (50 1/3 innings, 26 earned runs).
- NL East Standings: Nationals (3-1); Mets (2-3), 1.5 GB; Phillies (2-4), 2 GB; Marlins (1-3), 2 GB; Braves (0-5), 3.5 GB
- Dating back to 2004—the inaugural season of Citizens Bank Park—the Phillies are 3-9 in their home openers. Opponents have outscored them 86 runs to 46, with the most lopsided defeat coming on April 5, 2013, against the Kansas City Royals (nine-run loss). The Phillies have fallen in eight of their last 10 home openers.
What's Next:
- Tuesday, April 12, 2016: vs. San Diego Padres, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park
- LHP Robbie Erlin (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Charlie Morton (0-1, 14.73 ERA)
- TV: TCN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
