Nola seeks 20th career home win in series opener against Rockies

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Trailing their division by three games with nearly 39 percent of the season complete, the Philadelphia Phillies (33-30) will take on right-hander Jon Gray and the Colorado Rockies (32-33) in Tuesday evening's series opener at Citizens Bank Park. Right-hander Aaron Nola will aim for his 20th career home win.

Read: Phillies to wear cream alternate uniform due to nondelivery of Hoskins' red helmet

The Phillies snapped their four-game losing streak — in which they were outscored 35-15 — by edging the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in Sunday's matinee finale. The team logged only four hits, none of which were RBI producers. Zach Eflin improved to 3-2, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk through six frames, including nine strikeouts on 94 total pitches. Seranthony Dominguez (2 IP) and Luis Garcia (2/3 IP) recorded their seventh and 10th holds respectively, followed by Tommy Hunter's (1/3 IP) first save as a Phillie.

The Phillies will face the Rockies for the first time under manager Gabe Kapler starting on Tuesday. The club went 2-5 against the Rockies last season, including dropping three of four home games, outscored 24-7, and outhit 45-22. The Phillies (5.75) and Rockies (7.58) have MLB's worst combined ERAs this June.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

RHP Jon Gray, Age: 26

• Career vs. PHI: 1-1, 4.58 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 17 2/3 IP, 15 H, 10 R, 9 ER, 1 HR, 7 BB, 18 SO, 1.245 WHIP
• Career at Citizens Bank Park: 0-1, 12.46 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 4 1/3 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 1 HR, 4 BB, 6 SO, 2.308 WHIP

Gray has allowed the most hits among all qualified National League (NL) pitchers this season, 84. The right-hander's 8.49 ERA and 2.100 WHIP since May 13 respectively ranks as the second- and third-highest in the NL, minimum 20 innings pitched. Gray has a 12.46 career ERA in one appearance at Citizens Bank Park — August 12, 2016.

RHP Aaron Nola, Age: 25

• Career vs. COL: 0-0, 2.57 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 2 BB, 7 SO, 1.143 WHIP
• Career at Citizens Bank Park: 19-12, 3.24 ERA, 35 G, 35 GS, 222 1/3 IP, 189 H, 86 R, 80 ER, 29 HR, 56 BB, 253 SO, 1.102 WHIP

Nola has thrown three straight quality starts since May 26, combining to go 1-0 with a 2.29 ERA and 23-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 19 2/3 innings. The right-hander is 5-0 with a 1.94 ERA this season at home, with 45 strikeouts and an opposing .209/.255/.277 slash in 41 2/3 innings.

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

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

Game Notes:

• The Rockies have lost four straight games and eight of their last 10.
• MLB Team Rankings, June 2018:
  • Hits: Phillies 29 (54), Rockies 5 (91)
  • Home Runs: Phillies T-24 (6), Rockies T-16 (10)
  • Runs: Phillies 27 (26), Rockies 3 (53)
  • RBI: Phillies 27 (26), Rockies 3 (51)
  • Walks: Phillies T-8 (32), Rockies 23 (25)
  • Strikeouts: Phillies 6 (89), Rockies T-22 (75)
  • Stolen Bases: Phillies T-26 (1), Rockies T-26 (1)
  • Batting Average: Phillies 29 (.188), Rockies 5 (.277)
  • ERA: Phillies 2 (5.75), Rockies 1 (7.58)
  • Earned Runs: Phillies 4 (49), Rockies 1 (71)
  • Home Runs Allowed: Phillies T-15 (11), Rockies 1 (19)
  • Strikeouts Pitched: Phillies T-19 (78), Rockies T-11 (85)
  • Opposing Batting Average: Phillies T-7 (.263), Rockies 1 (.307)
  • WHIP: Phillies T-9 (1.33), Rockies 1 (1.75)
• Prior to the game, the Rockies recalled catcher Tom Murphy from Triple-A Albuquerque, and optioned outfielder Mike Tauchman. Murphy will start and bat eighth.
• Outfielder Carlos Gonzalez (rib) returns the Rockies lineup for the first time since Friday. 
• Over his last three games — all against the National League West division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks — Rockies shortstop Trevor Story slashed .583/.583/1.417 with three home runs and six RBI in 12 plate appearances. 
• Since returning from the disabled list on June 9, Phillies 1B/LF Rhys Hoskins (jaw) is slashing .286/.250/.714 in eight plate appearances, with one run, single and home run, five RBI and no strikeouts.
• Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco has not appeared in the club's starting lineup in five straight games, in part due to the June 6 return of shortstop J.P. Crawford (forearm), as well as continuing to give steady at-bats to rookie Scott Kingery.
  • Since May 12, 2018:
    • Crawford: 5 G, 4 GS, 16 PA, 12 AB, 2 R, 3 H, 2B, BB, 5 SO, .250/.400/.333
    • Franco: 23 G, 18 GS, 74 PA, 69 AB, 4 R, 13 H, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 5 BB, 13 SO, .188/.243/.246
    • Kingery: 24 G, 23 GS, 90 PA, 82 AB, 9 R, 16 H, 5 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 8 BB, 18 SO, .195/.267/.280
• Rockies first baseman Ian Desmond is 0-5 lifetime against Nola with five strikeouts. Center fielder Charlie Blackmon, meanwhile, is 3-4 lifetime against the Phillies right-hander with three doubles and one RBI (.750/.750/1.500). Franco and center fielder Odubel Herrera are a combined 2-17 against Gray with one RBI, one walk and six strikeouts.

What's Next:

Wednesday, June 13, 2018: vs. Colorado Rockies, 7:05 p.m.

• Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
• LHP Tyler Anderson (3-1, 4.81 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Pivetta (4-5, 3.76 ERA)
• TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP