By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
With both teams splitting the first two games of the series, the Philadelphia Phillies (32-27) and Chicago Cubs (34-24) will face off in a Thursday matinee rubber match at the historic Wrigley Field. Right-handed starters Nick Pivetta and Tyler Chatwood will get the respective nods.
The Phillies fell short of their 33rd win on Wednesday, as southpaw Adam Morgan surrendered a two-out, walk-off grand slam to Jason Heyward in the ninth. Corner outfielders Aaron Altherr and Dylan Cozens hit three and two-run blasts in the sixth and ninth, respectively, which put the Phillies on top after an early 3-0 deficit through four frames. Cozens' go-ahead blast was his first career home run. Reliever Seranthony Dominguez was charged with his first two career runs surrendered via the slam; he tossed a scoreless eighth, but allowed two of three batters faced in the ninth to reach before giving way to Morgan. Starter Aaron Nola received the no-decision, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks through six innings and 92 pitches.
On Wednesday, shortstop J.P. Crawford made his first plate appearances (0-2) since April 28, activated from a 10-day disabled list stint with a right forearm strain. Meanwhile, right-hander Pat Neshek (shoulder) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session. Neshek anticipates an end-of-June season debut upon completion of a rehab assignment in Florida.
The Phillies have collected at least one extra-base hit in 55 consecutive games since April 4. They trail both the division and the second Wild Card spot by 2 1/2 games.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (32-27) | Chicago Cubs (34-24) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Nick Pivetta | RHP | Tyler Chatwood | ||
| (4-4, 3.48 ERA) | (3-4, 4.02 ERA) | ||||
RHP Nick Pivetta, Age: 25
- Career vs. CHC: 1-0, 3.60 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 5 SO, 2.000 WHIP
- Career at Wrigley Field: N/A
RHP Tyler Chatwood, Age: 28
- Career vs. PHI: 3-2, 3.27 ERA, 6 G, 6 GS, 33 IP, 27 H, 15 R, 12 ER, 1 HR, 20 BB, 23 SO, 1.424 WHIP
- Career at Wrigley Field: 4-3, 3.83 ERA, 8 G, 8 GS, 40 IP, 31 H, 17 R, 17 ER, 3 HR, 30 BB, 39 SO, 1.525 WHIP
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (32-27) | Chicago Cubs (34-24) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | CF | Albert Almora Jr. | R |
| 2 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 2 | 2B | Tommy La Stella | L |
| 3 | SS | Scott Kingery | R | 3 | 3B | Kris Bryant | R |
| 4 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S | 4 | 1B | Anthony Rizzo | L |
| 5 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 5 | SS | Javier Baez | R |
| 6 | LF | Dylan Cozens | L | 6 | LF | Kyle Schwarber | L |
| 7 | C | Andrew Knapp | S | 7 | RF | Ian Happ | S |
| 8 | 3B | J.P. Crawford | L | 8 | C | Chris Gimenez | R |
| 9 | P | Nick Pivetta | R | 9 | P | Tyler Chatwood | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 2:20 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Left fielder Nick Williams left Wednesday's game in the fifth with left wrist soreness, and was replaced by Cozens. Over his previous 14 games entering the contest, Williams produced five home runs and nine RBI spanning 48 plate appearances.
- Heyward's walk-off grand slam was the first against the Phillies since the Florida Marlins' Dan Uggla off Tom Gordon on June 11, 2008, according to Reuben Frank via Baseball-Reference.com.
- Center fielder Odubel Herrera and second baseman Cesar Hernandez are a combined 1-17 lifetime against Chatwood with one RBI and four strikeouts. Third baseman Maikel Franco and first baseman Carlos Santana, meanwhile, each have a pair of hits off Chatwood spanning five respective plate appearances.
What's Next:
Friday, June 8, 2018: vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- RHP Jhoulys Chacin (4-1, 3.39 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (4-6, 3.82 ERA)
- TV: NBC 10; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
