Phillies, D-backs open series in battle between early-season juggernauts

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Two of the National League's top three teams — the Philadelphia Phillies (14-7) and Arizona Diamondbacks (15-6) — will open a three-game series Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Park. Diamondbacks southpaw Robbie Ray and Phillies right-hander Vince Velasquez will each make their fifth starts of the season.

The Phillies are coming off of their first four-game sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates for the first time since May 12-15, 1994. The club eked out a 3-2 victory in the 11th thanks to Aaron Altherr's game-winning RBI single. Starter Nick Pivetta helped his own cause by cutting the Phillies' 2-0 deficit in half in the fifth with a RBI double. Cesar Hernandez followed with a sacrifice fly, tying the game at two until the extra-hitting heroics six innings later. Pivetta notched his second quality start this season, allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings on seven strikeouts.

The Phillies dropped six of their seven meetings with the Diamondbacks last season, and have lost seven straight home games against their National League West foe since June 2016. Over these home losses, the Phillies have been outscored 37-14 and outhit 78-45.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

LHP Robbie Ray, Age: 26

• Career vs. PHI: 2-1, 4.56 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 23 2/3 IP, 30 H, 12 R, 12 ER, 3 HR, 9 BB, 26 SO, 1.648 WHIP 
• Career at Citizens Bank Park: 1-0, 4.76 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 1/3 IP, 15 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 14 SO, 1.765 WHIP

Ray, a 2017 American League All-Star, has struck out six or more batters in each of his four appearances thus far this season. The southpaw faced the Phillies twice last season and went 1-0 with a 4.63 ERA, despite Phillies hitters slashing .304/.418/.500 against him with 14 hits and three home runs through 11 2/3 innings.

RHP Vince Velasquez, Age: 25

• Career vs. ARI: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 G, 1 GS, 8 2/3 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 HR, 1 BB, 11 SO, 0.808 WHIP
• Career at Citizens Bank Park: 6-8, 3.93 ERA, 21 G, 21 GS, 110 IP, 97 H, 52 R, 48 ER, 21 HR, 38 BB, 134 SO, 1.227 WHIP

Velasquez last opposed the Diamondbacks on June 27, 2016, when he tossed five shutout innings with no walks and seven strikeouts on 84 pitches (55 strikes). Prior, with the Houston Astros on August 1, 2015, and Oct. 2, 2015, Velasquez appeared in two games as a reliever opposite the Diamondbacks and struck out four batters in 3 2/3 innings. Both the games were lopsided victories for the Astros, as they topped Arizona 9-2 and 21-5, respectively.

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

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

Game Notes:

• The Diamondbacks (2.75) and Phillies (3.01) have the top two team ERA among National League teams this season. Likewise, the two clubs similarly rank first and second in WHIP, 1.06 and 1.14, respectively.
• The Phillies have the best record in the majors since April 5, 13-3, with a second-best run differential over that span (plus-52), according to ESPN.
• Phillies starters have allowed three earned runs or fewer in 12 straight starts for the first time
  since April 27-May 11, 2011 (13 straight). Phillies starting pitchers also have accomplished this feat in 19 of the club's 21 games this season.
• The Phillies inked eight-year veteran utility infielder Trevor Plouffe to a minor league deal on Monday.
• Maikel Franco and Altherr each have homered against Ray in their careers. Odubel Herrera, who has reached base safely in a career-best 23 straight games, is slashing .417/.417/.417 lifetime against Ray with five singles in 12 at-bats.

What's Next:

• Wednesday, April 25, 2018: vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 7:05 p.m.
  • Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
  • RHP Zack Greinke (2-1, 4.13 ERA) vs. RHP Jake Arrieta (2-0, 2.04 ERA)
  • TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP