By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Looking to build off of their 9-6 win, the Philadelphia Phillies (60-56) will send RHP Vince Velasquez to the mound Saturday afternoon in the third of a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants (57-60) at Oracle Park. Velasquez will oppose 12-year veteran RHP Jeff Samardzija.
RELATED | Harper's 2 Homers, 4 RBI Lead Phillies Past Giants for 60th Win
Corner outfielders Corey Dickerson and Bryce Harper combined to produce seven of the Phillies' nine RBI in Friday's win. Dickerson's three-run triple gave the Phillies a 3-1 lead in the second, while the second of Harper's two home runs — a three-run blast in the seventh — put the Phillies on top for good, 8-6. Harper produced his first multi-home run game with the Phillies, and the 18th of his career. RHP Hector Neris notched his 20th save in the win.
With 46 games remaining, the Phillies are in a three-way tie to being a 1/2-game out of the second National League Wild Card spot. One of the teams the Phillies are tied with are the surging New York Mets, who have won 14 of their last 15 games.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (60-56) | San Francisco Giants (57-60) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Vince Velasquez | RHP | Jeff Samardzija | ||
| (4-6, 4.23 ERA) | (8-9, 3.70 ERA) | ||||
RHP Vince Velasquez, Age: 27
- Career vs. SFG: 1-2, 3.22 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 22 1/3 IP, 17 H, 8 R, 8 ER, 3 HR, 8 BB, 33 SO, 1.119 WHIP
- Career at Oracle Park: 0-1, 1.42 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 1/3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 HR, 1 BB, 9 SO, 0.947 WHIP
Velasquez is coming off a solid start in which he tossed seven innings for the first time since July 22, 2018 (also 7 IP). The right-hander has a 2.04 ERA over his last three starts, and a 3.29 ERA over his last five.
RHP Jeff Samardzija, Age: 34
- Career vs. PHI: 3-5, 7.33 ERA, 13 G, 7 GS, 43 IP, 51 H, 35 R, 35 ER, 9 HR, 14 BB, 40 SO, 1.512 WHIP
- Career at Oracle Park: 13-20, 3.88 ERA, 48 G, 47 GS, 280 1/3 IP, 276 H, 130 R, 121 ER, 24 HR, 78 BB, 255 SO, 1.263 WHIP
Samardzija has a strong 2.60 ERA and 1.012 WHIP over his last five starts, helped by tossing six scoreless against the Phillies on July 31 en route to his most recent winning decision.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (60-56) | San Francisco Giants (57-60) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | TBA | 1 | TBA | ||||
| 2 | 2 | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | ||||||
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 4:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP, FS1
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Around the League:
- Atlanta Braves (RHP Mike Soroka, 10-2, 2.45 ERA) at Miami Marlins (RHP Sandy Alcantara, 4-10, 4.50 ERA), 6:10 p.m.
- Texas Rangers (RHP Pedro Payano, 1-0, 3.45 ERA) at Milwaukee Brewers (RHP Adrian Houser, 4-5, 4.24 ERA), 7:10 p.m.
- Washington Nationals (LHP Patrick Corbin, 9-5, 3.43 ERA) at New York Mets (RHP Noah Syndergaard, 8-5, 3.96 ERA), 7:10 p.m.
- Pittsburgh Pirates (RHP Joe Musgrove, 8-10, 4.69 ERA) at St. Louis Cardinals (RHP Adam Wainwright, 7-8, 4.50 ERA), 7:15 p.m.
- This month, all four of Harper's extra-base hits through 42 plate appearances have been home runs. The only other Phillies with multiple home runs are Dickerson (2) and Roman Quinn (2), who both lead the team in August batting average (.381).
- Velasquez will round out the second turn through the Phillies starting rotation in August. Phillies starting pitchers this month: 2-3, 4.32 ERA, 9 G, 9 GS, 50 IP, 207 TBF, 45 H, 27 R, 24 ER, 6 HR, 17 BB, 43 SO, 1.240 WHIP
- The Phillies entered Friday's game having lost four straight games at Oracle Park, scoring only one run combined. The Phillies and Giants have split their last 10 games since May 9, 2018.
- Phillies shortstop Jean Segura has as many RBI (5) in his career against Samardzija as strikeouts through 32 plate appearances, logging nearly double as many hits (9). Harper only has three hits, all singles, through 22 career plate appearances against the right-hander.
- Giants first baseman Brandon Belt, second baseman Scooter Gennett, third baseman Evan Longoria, and center fielder Kevin Pillar are a combined 0-for-21 in their careers against Velasquez with three walks and nine strikeouts.
What's Next:
- Sunday, August 11, 2019: vs. San Francisco Giants, 7:05 p.m.
- Oracle Park, San Francisco, Calif.
- RHP Jake Arrieta (8-8, 4.41 ERA) vs. LHP Conner Menez (0-1, 5.73 ERA)
- TV: ESPN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Giants and Phillies will meet on Sunday Night Baseball for the first time since May 6, 2007 – Tim Lincecum’s debut.
— Guy Haberman (@GuyHaberman) August 10, 2019
