By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Playing against the Minnesota Twins (4-1) for the first time since June 2016, the Philadelphia Phillies (4-1) will look to rebound Friday — with rain in the forecast — after a disappointing Wednesday matinee defeat, their first loss. The club will open their 2019 Interleague slate behind RHP Nick Pivetta.
Pivetta struggled in his 2019 season debut on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves, allowing four runs on five singles, one double, one triple, one home run and one walk spanning 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander received the no-decision while striking out four opposite rookie RHP Bryse Wilson; on Friday, he will oppose RHP Jake Odorizzi, an eight-year veteran.
When the 2019 regular season schedule released in August, it was easy then to pen-in victories for the Phillies' early home series against the Twins. At the time, the Phillies were 10 games over .500 with a +1 run differential, while the Twins were six games under .500 with a negative-25 run differential. Now, entering their sixth game a season later, both clubs have a 4-1 record and sit either atop, or are tied, for first place in their respective divisions.
Entering Friday, the Phillies and Twins are tied for having the third-best winning percentage in MLB (.800), trailing only the Seattle Mariners (.875) and Milwaukee Brewers (.857). While the Phillies have slugged the seventh-most home runs (10), the Twins have the least in all of MLB — 1, by six-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger Award winner and 2011 ALCS MVP, outfielder Nelson Cruz. A more even comparison, however, are the clubs' on-base percentages — the Phillies with a tied for third-best .388, and the Twins a sixth-best .358.
The Phillies will feature the same lineup for the sixth consecutive game; earlier on Friday, they had a simulated game where their bench hitters — Aaron Altherr, Scott Kingery, Andrew Knapp and Nick Williams — got seven to eight plate appearances each against pitchers "brought in from extended spring training," according to Philly.com's Scott Lauber.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Minnesota Twins (4-1) | Philadelphia Phillies (4-1) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jake Odorizzi | RHP | Nick Pivetta | ||
| (0-0, 1.50 ERA) | (0-0, 7.71 ERA) | ||||
RHP Jake Odorizzi, Age: 29
- Career vs. PHI: 0-0, 3.60 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 5 SO, 1.400 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 0-0, 3.60 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 5 SO, 1.400 WHIP
This past offseason, Odorizzi avoided arbitration with the Twins — in his first year of eligibility — by agreeing to a one-year, $9.5 million contract. While the right-hander posted a career-worst 4.49 ERA (minimum three appearances) in 2018, he struck out 162 batters in 164 1/3 innings.
The Twins had nothing to complain about regarding Odorizzi's 2019 season debut on Saturday against the Cleveland Indians, a no-decision. The Breese, Illinois, native allowed just one hit — a solo home run to Hanley Ramirez — and two walks, while punching out 11 batters over six strong innings.
Odorizzi's only career start against the Phillies came in 2015, while a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. In five innings, he struck out as many batters, while allowing two runs on five hits and two walks.
RHP Nick Pivetta, Age: 26
- Career vs. MIN: N/A
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 8-10, 4.61 ERA, 30 G, 29 GS, 156 1/3 IP, 151 H, 84 R, 80 ER, 29 HR, 44 BB, 188 SO, 1.247 WHIP
Over eight starts and 42 2/3 innings in his career in March/April, Pivetta has struck out 43 batters while walking just nine. The right-hander will make his 30th career start at Citizens Bank Park; his last home win as a starting pitcher came 13 starts ago — May 21 against the Braves.
Starting Lineups:
| Minnesota Twins (4-1) | Philadelphia Phillies (4-1) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Max Kepler | L | 1 | LF | Andrew McCutchen | R |
| 2 | SS | Jorge Polanco | S | 2 | SS | Jean Segura | R |
| 3 | LF | Eddie Rosario | L | 3 | RF | Bryce Harper | L |
| 4 | 1B | C.J. Cron | R | 4 | 1B | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 5 | 3B | Marwin Gonzalez | S | 5 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R |
| 6 | RF | Jake Cave | L | 6 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 7 | 2B | Jonathan Schoop | R | 7 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 8 | C | Jason Castro | L | 8 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 9 | P | Jake Odorizzi | R | 9 | P | Nick Pivetta | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: NBC 10
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
The #Phillies have used the same lineup in the first six games of the season. They have not used the same lineup six times in a season since early 2017. That lineup looked like this:
C. Hernandez
H. Kendrick
O. Herrera
M. Franco
M. Saunders
T. Joseph
C. Rupp
F. Galvis
Pitcher— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) April 5, 2019
- The Phillies have played just three home games against the Twins so far in the Citizens Bank Park era — June 18-20, 2010. Right-handers Joe Blanton and Roy Halladay, along with southpaw Cole Hamels started the series; the Phillies lost two of three, outscored 22-20, and outhit 37-29.
- The Phillies are 8-10 against the Twins all-time since first squaring off at Veterans Stadium, June 21-23, 2003 — their only other home series ever against the American League Central club, also a 1-2 series defeat.
- 2019 Phillies Interleague Schedule: vs. Twins (April 5-7), vs. DET (April 30-May 1), at KC (May 10-12), at DET (July 23-24), vs. CWS (August 2-4), at BOS (August 20-21), vs. BOS (Sept. 14-15), & at CLE (Sept. 20-22).
- Phillies shortstop Jean Segura has had much success against Odorizzi in his career, where in 13 at-bats he has three singles, two doubles, a solo home run, walk and strikeout (.462/.500/.846). Second baseman Cesar Hernandez, meanwhile, has walked twice spanning only one at-bat opposite the right-hander; the Phillies have the second-best walk percentage this season (15.4 percent), only bested by the Braves (15.7 percent).
What's Next:
- Saturday, April 6, 2019: vs. Minnesota Twins, 2:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- RHP Michael Pineda (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Arrieta (1-0, 1.50 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP+; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
