By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Coming off of their third series loss of the season, the Philadelphia Phillies (10-7) return home for a 10-game homestand starting Thursday evening against RHP Jameson Taillon and the Pittsburgh Pirates (12-6) at Citizens Bank Park. Phillies RHP Jake Arrieta will make his third start of the season.
The Phillies fell 7-3 on Wednesday, their fourth loss against the Atlanta Braves in six meetings. The club was outhit 11-6, as its former spring training non-roster invitee, Ryan Flaherty, homered and produced four RBI against Phillies pitching. Starter Vince Velasquez tossed six innings and allowed three runs on seven hits, one walk and 99 pitches (68 strikes). Velasquez collected his first RBI of the season, while outfielder Aaron Altherr picked up his first double and ninth RBI in the loss.
The game will be the first "Throwback Thursday" of the season at Citizens Bank Park, where the Phillies will wear their iconic powder blue uniforms at home for the first time since 1972. A Nick Williams retro T-shirt will be given to fans 15 and older.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Pittsburgh Pirates (12-6) | Philadelphia Phillies (10-7) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jameson Taillon | RHP | Jake Arrieta | ||
| (2-0, 0.89 ERA) | (1-0, 3.38 ERA) | ||||
RHP Jameson Taillon, Age: 26
- Career vs. PHI: 1-0, 2.45 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 16 SO, 1.182 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 SO, 1.200 WHIP
Taillon's 0.89 season ERA ranks as the third-best among all qualifying pitchers, trailing only Johnny Cueto (0.45) and Jarlin Garcia (0.86). The right-hander's .130 opposing batting average also ranks as the third-best, behind Garcia (.091) and Reynaldo Lopez (.129).
RHP Jake Arrieta, Age: 32
- Career vs. PIT: 10-6, 3.18 ERA, 20 G, 20 GS, 121 2/3 IP, 90 H, 47 R, 43 ER, 14 HR, 32 BB, 114 SO, 1.003 WHIP
- Career at Citizens Bank Park: 2-0, 1.42 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 19 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 HR, 5 BB, 21 SO, 0.842 WHIP
Arrieta will make his first career starting donning Phillies red pinstripes. Thus far through two starts and 10 2/3 innings, the right-hander has allowed six runs (four earned) on 10 hits, four walks and six strikeouts. Arrieta last faced the Pirates on Sept. 4 of last season, and allowed three runs and two home runs in just 2 1/3 innings (50 pitches, 32 strikes).
Starting Lineups:
| Pittsburgh Pirates (12-6) | Philadelphia Phillies (10-7) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Adam Frazier | L | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | RF | Gregory Polanco | L | 2 | 1B | Carlos Santana | S |
| 3 | CF | Starling Marte | R | 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 4 | 1B | Josh Bell | S | 4 | LF | Rhys Hoskins | R |
| 5 | LF | Corey Dickerson | L | 5 | RF | Nick Williams | L |
| 6 | C | Francisco Cervelli | R | 6 | 3B | Scott Kingery | R |
| 7 | 3B | Colin Moran | L | 7 | SS | J.P. Crawford | L |
| 8 | SS | Jordy Mercer | R | 8 | C | Jorge Alfaro | R |
| 9 | P | Jameson Taillon | R | 9 | P | Jake Arrieta | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP+, MLBN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Rhys Hoskins has hit safely in five straight games. Over this stretch, Hoskins is batting .312/.522/.438 with five runs scored, five hits, four RBI, six walks and four strikeouts spanning 16 at-bats.
- The Phillies have fallen in five of their last six games against the Pirates since May 20, 2017, outscored 21-12 and outhit 43-41. The club has not won a home series against the Pirates since July 29-31, 2011, losing and tying three series each since.
- The Pirates have plenty of career at-bats against Arrieta, who made 128 appearances with Pittsburgh's National League Central rival Chicago Cubs from 2013-2017. Spanning 211 combined at-bats against the right-hander, active members of the Pirates are slashing .256/.305/.464 with 10 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 11 walks, 26 RBI and 55 strikeouts. Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera, meanwhile, is 3-5 liftetime against Taillon with a two singles, one home run and two RBI.
What's Next:
- Friday, April 20, 2018: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
- RHP Ivan Nova (2-1, 4.88 ERA) vs. RHP Ben Lively (0-1, 5.87 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
