By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies (52-48) will open a brief, two-game set opposite Major League Baseball's second-worst, the Detroit Tigers (30-65), Tuesday evening at Comerica Park. Right-handed ace Aaron Nola will oppose rumored Phillies trade target, southpaw Matthew Boyd, as the club plays just their 10th game all-time at the venue, which opened in 2000.
Nola will look for his 50th win while making his 115th career start. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native also earned his 10th career win at Comerica Park in May 2016.
Phillies general manager Matt Klentak will reportedly attend the series in person, with his eyes set not only on his own team, but also Boyd and a few other potentially acquirable Tigers players, ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (52-48) | Detroit Tigers (30-65) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Aaron Nola | LHP | Matthew Boyd | ||
| (8-2, 3.77 ERA) | (6-8, 4.13 ERA) | ||||
RHP Aaron Nola, Age: 26
- Career vs. DET: 1-0, 2.31 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 2/3 IP, 13 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 12 SO, 1.457 WHIP
- Career at Comerica Park: 1-0, 3.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, BB, 6 SO, 1.167 WHIP
Through 13 career interleague starts, Nola is 4-5 with a 3.87 ERA, 84-28 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.345 WHIP spanning 74 1/3 innings. The right-hander's first and only career start against the Tigers thus far also occurred at Comerica Park on May 25, 2016.
Excluding his July 18 start against the streaking Los Angeles Dodgers in which he gave up a season-high-tying three home runs, Nola went 2-1 with a 0.76 ERA over his previous five starts dating back to June 21.
LHP Matthew Boyd, Age: 28
- Career vs. PHI: N/A
- Career at Comerica Park: 16-14, 3.69 ERA, 51 G, 49 GS, 282 2/3 IP, 245 H, 125 R, 116 ER, 40 HR, 80 BB, 243 SO, 1.150 WHIP
This season among American League pitchers, Boyd ranks first in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.667), second in walks per nine innings (1.800), fourth in assists (15) and strikeouts per nine innings (12.000), fifth in strikeouts (160), eighth in FIP (3.56), ninth in WHIP (1.133) and 10th in WAR (2.6).
Boyd's last quality start came on May 28; in his eight starts since, he is 1-4 with a 6.08 ERA and .279/.308/.563 opposing slash, but has an impressive 72-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 47 1/3 innings pitched.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (52-48) | Detroit Tigers (30-65) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | SS | Scott Kingery | R | 1 | CF | JaCoby Jones | R |
| 2 | 1B | Rhys Hoskins | R | 2 | 2B | Harold Castro | L |
| 3 | DH | Bryce Harper | L | 3 | DH | Miguel Cabrera | R |
| 4 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R | 4 | RF | Nicholas Castellanos | R |
| 5 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 5 | 3B | Jeimer Candelario | S |
| 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 6 | 1B | Niko Goodrum | S |
| 7 | RF | Adam Haseley | L | 7 | LF | Christin Stewart | L |
| 8 | CF | Roman Quinn | S | 8 | C | John Hicks | R |
| 9 | LF | Nick Williams | L | 9 | SS | Jordy Mercer | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Exactly 100 games into the season, the Phillies sit just a 1/2 game out of a postseason spot (NL Wild Card).
- Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper leads the club this month in hits (18), doubles (6), RBI (11), double plays grounded into (3) and batting average (.300).
- This month, Nola is 2-0 with a 2.10 ERA and 28 strikeouts through 25 2/3 innings pitched and four starts.
- The Phillies split their two-game home series against the Tigers earlier this season. All-time at Comerica Park, they have been outscored 44-38 and outhit 85-81 (4-5 record).
- Phillies outfielder Jay Bruce is 2-for-4 all-time against Boyd with a solo home run and walk (.500/.600/1.250). Meanwhile, Tigers right fielder Nicholas Castellanos is 0-for-6 in his career against Nola with three strikeouts (.000/.000/.000) (click to expand).
What's Next:
- Wednesday, July 24, 2019: at Detroit Tigers, 1:10 p.m.
- Comerica Park, Detroit, Mi.
- RHP Vince Velasquez (2-5, 4.87 ERA) vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann (0-7, 7.51 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
