Phillies’ Nola to Face Price, MLB-Best Red Sox in Series Opener

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Having lost three games in a row for the first time since June 24-26, the Philadelphia Phillies (58-47) and All-Star RHP Aaron Nola will oppose the MLB-best Boston Red Sox (74-33) and 11-year veteran southpaw David Price in the first of a two-game set at the historic Fenway Park.

Roman Quinn will make his fourth career start at right field, and his first MLB start overall since Sept. 2016, while Asdrubal Cabrera will start as the designated hitter and bat fifth in the lineup. The Phillies series opening lineup features four switch-hitters: Quinn, Cabrera, Cesar Hernandez and Carlos Santana.

The Phillies have lost five straight games at Fenway Park dating back to Sept. 2015, and have fallen in eight of their last 10 contests against the Red Sox overall since April 2015, outscored 55-27.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

RHP Aaron Nola, Age: 25

• 2018 vs. BOS: N/A
• Career vs. BOS: N/A
• Career at Fenway Park: N/A

Through 11 career interleague starts, Nola is 4-5 with a 4.45 ERA, 72-24 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.401 WHIP spanning 60 2/3 innings. This month, the right-hander has surrendered six runs on 17 hits and six walks spanning four starts and 25 innings (2.16 ERA). Nola had tossed five straight quality starts before his most recent appearance against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a no-decision on July 24 (5 IP, 3 ER).

LHP David Price, Age: 32

• 2018 vs. PHI: N/A
• Career vs. PHI: 1-1, 4.67 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 17 1/3 IP, 15 H, 14 R, 9 R, 4 HR, 9 BB, 16 SO, 1.385 WHIP
• Career at Fenway Park: 22-7, 3.22 ERA, 43 G, 40 GS, 265 1/3 IP, 221 H, 99 R, 95 ER, 29 HR, 66 BB, 262 SO, 1.082 WHIP

Price is 15-12 with a 3.40 ERA, 236-60 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.186 WHIP through 33 career interleague appearances and 222 2/3 innings. The five-time All-Star has struggled this month, posting a 6.43 ERA, 1.286 WHIP and eight home runs surrendered in four starts and 21 innings. In his most recent appearance against the Detroit Tigers on July 20, however, Price threw 6 1/3 scoreless frames, striking out five his his 25 batters faced.

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
• TV: NBCSP, ESPN
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• NBC Sports' Corey Seidman: "The Red Sox and Phillies have been two of the majors' four best teams in interleague play this season. The order goes Boston at 7-1, Pittsburgh at 12-3, Cincinnati at 10-3 and then the Phillies at 9-4."
• Since joining the Phillies on Saturday, Cabrera is hitless in eight plate appearances with three strikeouts. Cabrera has three doubles, two RBI, one walk and three strikeouts in 21 career plate appearances opposite Price (.350/.381/.500).
• Phillies 3B/SS J.P. Crawford begins a rehab assignment Monday with the Gulf Coast League Phillies East, and has been in Clearwater since Thursday, per Philly.com's Matt Breen. Crawford could rejoin the club "in first few weeks of August."
• In 39 career plate appearances opposite Price, Santana is slashing .333/.436/.455 with four doubles, six walks, eight strikeouts and two RBI.

• The Phillies are 8-19 all-time at Fenway Park, and are 24-39 against the Red Sox overall since both clubs first met in June 1997.

In the News:

• Phillies No. 16 Prospect Cozens Named International League Batter of the Week [Link]
• Jim Thome: Charlie Manuel ‘Always Believed in Me’ [Link]
• Stark: ‘Still a Chance’ Phillies Acquire Left-Handed Bench Hitter, Reliever [Link]
• Report: Phillies Interested in 'Practically Every Reliever Available' [Link]
• Phillies Hot Stove: Jones Opts to Stay With Orioles Amid ‘Possible Trade’ [Link]

What's Next:

Tuesday, July 31, 2018: at Boston Red Sox, 7:10 p.m.

• Fenway Park, Boston, Mass.
• RHP Jake Arrieta (8-6, 3.45 ERA) vs. LHP Drew Pomeranz (1-4, 6.91 ERA)
• TV: NBCSP, ESPN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP