Eflin, Hendricks to Square Off as Phillies Seek Series Win Over Cubs

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Behind RHP Zach Eflin, the Philadelphia Phillies (72-62) will look for their first series victory since August 2-5, as they take on RHP Kyle Hendricks and the Chicago Cubs (79-55) in the second of a three-game set Saturday evening at Citizens Bank Park.

Prior to the game, and with the expanded September rosters, the Phillies recalled RHP Yacksel Rios, along with outfielders Dylan Cozens and Aaron Altherr from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In addition, RHP Edubray Ramos (right index finger blister), LHP Austin Davis (back), and infielder Pedro Florimon (fractured right foot) were activated from the disabled list. Infielder Jesmuel Valentin was designated for assignment as a corresponding move to clear a spot for Florimon on the 40-man roster.

In addition, the Phillies lost RHP Mark Leiter Jr. on Saturday, as the Toronto Blue Jays claimed the right-hander off waivers to fill the vacant 40-man roster spot left by recently-traded outfielder Curtis Granderson. The Phillies designated Leiter Jr. for assignment on Tuesday to make room for outfielder Jose Bautista on their respective 40-man roster.

The Phillies snapped their seven-game series opener skid with a thrilling, 2-1 walk-off victory thanks to Asdrubal Cabrera's home run in the 10th, his third in 30 games since joining the club. Starter RHP Nick Pivetta yielded just one run — a solo home run to Javier Baez — on five hits, three walks, six strikeouts and 105 pitches over five innings. Right-hander Pat Neshek earned his second win; he entered in the 10th with an inherited runner on first and needed just five pitches to work his way out of the inning. The Phillies turned three double plays in the field, while Bautista recorded his first outfield assist in red pinstripes.

Eflin and Hendricks last faced off on June 5 at Wrigley Field, respectively earning winning and losing decisions in the Phillies' 6-1 victory. Phillies left fielder Nick Williams launched a two-run home run to deep right field against Hendricks for the game's first runs in the second inning. Carlos Santana walked with the bases loaded an inning later against the right-hander. Eflin tossed 7 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on eight hits, one walk, two strikeouts and 105 pitches. Hendricks, meanwhile, surrendered five runs on five hits, three walks, five strikeouts and 87 pitches spanning five frames.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

RHP Kyle Hendricks, Age: 28

• 2018 vs. PHI: 0-1, 9.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 5 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, HR, 3 BB, 5 SO, 1.600 WHIP
• Career vs. PHI: 3-2, 3.58 ERA, 5 G, 5 GS, 32 2/3 IP, 24 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 3 HR, 7 BB, 31 SO, 0.949 WHIP
• Career at Citizens Bank Park: 2-1, 3.38 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 18 2/3 IP, 14 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 19 SO, 0.964 WHIP

RHP Zach Eflin, Age: 24

• 2018 vs. CHC: 1-0, 1.17 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 2/3 IP, 8 H, R, ER, 0 HR, BB, 2 SO, 1.174 WHIP
• Career vs. CHC: 1-0, 2.45 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 14 2/3 IP, 17 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 HR, BB, 3 SO, 1.227 WHIP
• Career at Citizens Bank Park: 7-7, 4.71 ERA, 18 G, 18 GS, 109 IP, 108 H, 60 R, 57 ER, 23 HR, 25 BB, 89 SO, 1.220 WHIP

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
• TV: NBCSP
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• With 28 games remaining in the season, the Phillies trail the National League East-leading Atlanta Braves by just two games, while trailing the Milwaukee Brewers and the second National League Wild Card spot by three games. The Brewers acquired three players on Friday: OF Curtis Granderson (Toronto Blue Jays), LHP Gio Gonzalez (Washington Nationals) and LHP Xavier Cedeno (Chicago White Sox).
• Saturday's Postseason Race Matchups:
  • Milwaukee Brewers (RHP Chase Anderson) at Washington Nationals (RHP Stephen Strasburg), 7:05 p.m.
  • Pittsburgh Pirates (RHP Chris Archer) at Atlanta Braves (RHP Kevin Gausman), 7:10 p.m.
  • Cincinnati Reds (RHP Luis Castillo) at St. Louis Cardinals (LHP Daniel Poncedeleon), 7:15 p.m.
  • Colorado Rockies (RHP Jon Gray) at San Diego Padres (LHP Robbie Erlin), 8:40 p.m.
  • Arizona Diamondbacks (LHP Patrick Corbin) at Los Angeles Dodgers (LHP Clayton Kershaw), 9:10 p.m.
• Santana will bat leadoff for the fourth time this season and the 127th time of his career (.252/.370/.465 with 92 walks and 84 strikeouts in 581 plate appearances).
• Since his August 14 recall from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, RHP Hector Neris has thrown 10 scoreless appearances (9 IP), striking out 20 of his 32 batters faced. Neris' feats, via MLB.com:
  • Neris’ strikeout rate (62.5 percent) is tops among all major league pitchers who have faced at least 30 batters since his recall date. The next closest is Chicago White Sox LHP Jace Fry (45.2 percent).
  • Neris is the first Phillies reliever to collect 20 or more strikeouts in a nine-inning span since LHP Antonio Bastardo, August 3-Sept. 9, 2012 (20 SO, 9.0 IP).
• Active Phillies hit streaks of five or more games
  • Roman Quinn (8 games): 29 AB, 7 R, 14 H, HR, 5 RBI, BB, 6 SO, .483/.500/.793
  • Jorge Alfaro (7): 26 AB, 2 R, 8 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 0 BB, 7 SO, .308/.333/.538
• Alfaro is 3-4 lifetime against Hendricks with a double (.750/.750/1.000), while Rhys Hoskins is 2-3 with a home run and two RBI (.667/.667/1.667) (click to expand). 

What's Next:

Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018: vs. Chicago Cubs, 1:35 p.m.

• Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
• LHP Jon Lester (14-5, 3.67 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (15-3, 2.10 ERA)
• TV: NBCSP, TBS; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP