By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor
The Philadelphia Phillies (36-32) will play for consecutive series wins for the first time since April 9-15, as National League All-Star hopeful Aaron Nola takes the mound opposite Chase Anderson and the Milwaukee Brewers (42-28) in Sunday's matinee series finale at Miller Park.
In the Phillies' 4-1 win on Saturday, Rhys Hoskins continued his dominance since returning from the disabled list on June 9. Hoskins logged his second three-hit game since Thursday, collecting a single, double, solo home run — which had a career-high 112 miles per hour exit velocity — and one walk in five plate appearances. Catcher Andrew Knapp's fifth-inning solo blast secured the Phillies win behind Zach Eflin, who allowed just one run on three hits and a walk through five innings and 73 pitches. Eflin earned this third straight winning decision, while Seranthony Dominguez and Hector Neris logged their eighth hold and 10th save of 2018, respectively.
A win on Sunday would split the six-game season series between both clubs. The Phillies have not lost a season series against the Brewers since 2015, when they lost all seven contests.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
Philadelphia Phillies (36-32) | Milwaukee Brewers (42-28) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RHP | Aaron Nola | RHP | Chase Anderson | ||
(8-2, 2.27 ERA) | (5-5, 4.13 ERA) |
RHP Aaron Nola, Age: 25
- Career vs. MIL: 3-0, 1.38 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 26 IP, 24 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, 8 BB, 32 SO, 1.231 WHIP
- Career at Miller Park: 1-0, 2.08 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 13 IP, 11 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 14 SO, 1.154 WHIP
Nola has pitched four straight quality starts since May 26, combining to go 2-0 with a 2.05 ERA, 33-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio and .122/.200/.200 opposing slash spanning 26 1/3 innings. Wth a win on Sunday, Nola would have the second-most wins in the National League (9), trailing only Washington Nationals right-hander Max Scherzer (10).
RHP Chase Anderson, Age: 30
- Career vs. PHI: 1-2, 5.85 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 20 IP, 23 H, 13 R, 13 ER, 3 HR, 7 BB, 16 SO, 1.500 WHIP
- Career at Miller Park: 15-8, 3.78 ERA, 33 G, 33 GS, 183 1/3 IP, 170 H, 82 R, 77 ER, 32 HR, 55 BB, 152 SO, 1.227 WHIP
This season, Anderson has surrendered 11 home runs in 37 1/3 innings at home (seven starts), as opposed to surrendering just two home runs in 34 2/3 innings on the road (six starts). The right-hander is coming off of a seven-inning shutout performance against the Chicago Cubs, in which he allowed just one single and two walks while striking out six of his 23 batters faced.
Starting Lineups:
Philadelphia Phillies (36-32) | Milwaukee Brewers (42-28) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | LF | Eric Thames | L |
2 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R | 2 | RF | Christian Yelich | L |
3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | CF | Lorenzo Cain | R |
4 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 4 | 3B | Travis Shaw | L |
5 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 5 | 1B | Jesus Aguilar | R |
6 | RF | Nick Williams | L | 6 | 2B | Jonathan Villar | S |
7 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R | 7 | SS | Hernan Perez | R |
8 | SS | J.P. Crawford | L | 8 | C | Manny Pina | R |
9 | P | Aaron Nola | R | 9 | P | Chase Anderson | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 2:10 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- With 94 games left to play in the regular season, the Phillies trail the division by four games and the second Wild Card spot by 1.5 games.
- This June, Hoskins is slashing .360/.433/.800 with two doubles, three home runs and nine RBI in 30 plate appearances. Hoskins' .800 slugging percentage ranks as the 11th-best among MLB batters in June, minimum 30 plate appearances.
J.P. Crawford saw 40 pitches yesterday in 5 plate apperances. He's the 1st Phillies player in at least the last 20 years to see 40 pitches 5 or fewer PAs.
— Matt Breen (@matt_breen) June 17, 2018
- Prior to Saturday's game, the Phillies recalled right-handers Yacksel Rios and Jake Thompson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, optioned RHP Mark Leiter, and placed RHP Luis Garcia on the 10-day disabled list (right wrist strain).
- Although third baseman Maikel Franco has logged just 11 plate appearances since June 6 — slashing .000/.091/.000 with an intentional walk and strikeout — he is 4-8 lifetime against Anderson with two home runs and four RBI. Center fielder Odubel Herrera has previously doubled against the right-hander, going 3-9 with two walks.
What's Next:
Monday, June 18, 2018: vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- RHP Miles Mikolas (7-2, 2.43 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Pivetta (4-6, 4.25 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP