Snapping their two-game skid yesterday with a big offensive showing, the Philadelphia Phillies (19-26) will turn to right hander Aaron Harang in the rubber match of the series with the division-leading Washington Nationals (25-18).
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (19-26) | Washington Nationals (25-18) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Aaron Harang | LHP | Gio Gonzalez | ||
| (4-3, 1.82 ERA) | (3-2, 4.94 ERA) | ||||
Harang will earn his second-to-last start for the month of May this afternoon.
While his strikeout numbers this month (17) have dipped considerably from April (27), Harang has thrown much more effectively. The right hander has allowed just three earned runs over 27 innings this month to yield a 1.00 ERA, which is much lower than his April ERA of 2.51.
Harang last faced Washington on April 18. He earned a winning decision, allowing three earned runs over seven hits and two walks in six innings.
Gonzalez will start against the Phillies for the second time this season. On April 10, his 2015 debut, he surrendered three earned runs, five hits and four walks en-route to a losing decision.
Unlike Harang, most of Gonzalez's numbers from the month of May have remained consistent in comparison to April.
The only significant difference for the left-hander, statistics-wise, is his win-loss ratio. In April, he earned one winning and two losing decisions. This month, he has been undefeated, with two winning decisions to his credit. This suggests an improvement in the Nationals' offense.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (19-26) | Washington Nationals (25-18) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Announced | Bats | Position | Projected | Bats | ||
| 1 | LF | Ben Revere | L | 1 | CF | Denard Span | L |
| 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 2 | SS | Ian Desmond | R |
| 3 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R | 3 | 3B | Yunel Escobar | R |
| 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 4 | RF | Bryce Harper | L |
| 5 | RF | Jeff Francoeur | R | 5 | 1B | Ryan Zimmerman | R |
| 6 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 6 | C | Wilson Ramos | R |
| 7 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 7 | 2B | Dan Uggla | R |
| 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 8 | LF | Michael Taylor | R |
| 9 | P | Aaron Harang | R | 9 | P | Gio Gonzalez | R |
Game Notes:
- Over his last four games, Phillies' first baseman Ryan Howard is batting .444 (8-18) with three doubles, three home runs and four runs-batted-in. He has scored five of the Phillies' 16 runs (31.3%) over the same stretch. Howard, 0-11 with six strikeouts in his career against Gonzalez, is out of today's lineup.
- Gonzalez, today's Washington starter, was acquired by the Phillies in the November 2005 trade which sent future Hall of Famer Jim Thome to the Chicago White Sox. Nearly a year later, the Phillies dealt Gonzalez back to the White Sox, along with Gavin Floyd, for Freddy Garcia.
- Over shortstop Freddy Galvis' last six games, he is batting just .111 (3-27) with no extra-base hits, home runs or runs-batted-in. In his previous six prior, Galvis batted .400 (8-20) with three runs-batted-in.
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 1:35 pm EST
- TV: CSN
- Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, SBP 1480 (Sp.)
What's Next:
- Monday, May 25, 2015: at New York Mets, 1:10 pm
- RHP Severino Gonzalez (2-1, 7.11 ERA) vs. RHP Bartolo Colon (6-3, 4.85 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, SBP 1480 (Sp.)
- Tuesday, May 26, 2015: at New York Mets, 7:10 pm
- RHP Jerome Williams (3-4, 5.44 ERA) vs. RHP Jacob deGrom (5-4, 2.75 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, SBP 1480 (Sp.)
- Wednesday, May 27, 2015: at New York Mets, 1:10 pm
- RHP Sean O'Sullivan (1-3, 3.54 ERA) vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard (1-2, 3.63 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, SBP 1480 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
