Phillies call upon Jake Thompson for 4th start in finale with Marlins

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

MIAMI — The Philadelphia Phillies (51-84) will look to capture the series victory in their final road contest against the Miami Marlins (67-68) this season at Marlins Park. The Phillies recall right-hander Jake Thompson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start opposite right-hander Jose Urena, who leads the Marlins in wins (12). Thompson replaces sidelined RHP Jerad Eickhoff (right hand nerve irritation) in the rotation.

Phillies RHP Aaron Nola fell to 10-10 on the season during Saturday evening's 10-9 defeat, allowing six runs on 10 hits, a walk and two home runs while striking out seven in just five innings. Rookie outfielder Nick Williams went 2-5 with a bases-clearing triple and two runs scored.

Two Phillies outfielders exited early with injuries — center fielder Pedro Florimon and left fielder Rhys Hoskins. Florimon was carted off the field in the second after rolling his right ankle while stepping awkwardly on the right side of the first base bag. Hoskins was lifted on a double-switch a half-inning after taking a pitch off his right hand in the seventh. X-rays were negative for the Phillies rookie, who is out day-to-day, while Florimon's season is likely over. Hoskins went 3-3 with a double and home run prior to his departure from his 24th big league appearance. As Ryan M. Spaeder notes, Hoskins' 12 home runs are tied for the most all-time for a player through 33 career games, a nine-game difference.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Thompson Career vs. MIA: 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 HR, 4 BB, 4 SO, 2.200 WHIP

Thompson, 23, is 1-1 with a 4.20 ERA and 11-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 15 innings as a starter this season. Over these frames — three starts — Thompson has allowed 12 runs (seven earned) on 11 singles, five doubles, five home runs and seven walks.

The Dallas, Texas native's first and only career start against the Marlins came in his most recent appearance, August 24 at Citizens Bank Park in the Phillies' 9-8 defeat. Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton and former Phillies catcher A.J. Ellis homered off Thompson in the no-decision.

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 0 G, 0 GS
• May: 3 G, 0 GS, 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 5 IP, 3 SO, 4 BB, .316/.400/.579
• June: 0 G, 0 GS
• July: 1 G, 1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 IP, 5 SO, 2 BB, .278/.350/.333
• August: 2 G, 2 GS, 0-1, 6.30 ERA, 10 IP, 6 SO, 5 BB, .364/.462/.795

Urena Career vs. PHI: 1-2, 6.65 ERA, 8 G, 4 GS, 21 2/3 IP, 25 H, 16 R, 16 ER, 5 HR, 7 BB, 21 SO, 1.477 WHIP

Urena, 25, last faced the Phillies in the second half of August 22's doubleheader at Citizens Bank Park. The right-hander earned the win, allowing three runs on five hits, two walks and five strikeouts spanning five innings and 101 pitches (64 strikes). Williams and utility infielder Andres Blanco homered off Urena in the 7-4 loss.

The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native is 4-5 with a 3.36 ERA at home this season. Urena was 8-0 through his first 13 road appearances until suffering a losing decision in his most recent start, away against the Washington Nationals on August 28 at Nationals Park.

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 4 G, 0 GS, 0-0, 2.92 ERA, 12 1/3 IP, 6 SO, 1 BB, .320/.333/.520
• May: 7 G, 5 GS, 3-2, 3.23 ERA, 30 2/3 IP, 21 SO, 16 BB, .196/.318/.375
• June: 6 G, 6 GS, 3-1, 3.78 ERA, 33 1/3 IP, 21 SO, 10 BB, .230/.305/.365
• July: 6 G, 6 GS, 3-2, 4.78 ERA, 32 IP, 28 SO, 13 BB, .217/.308/.417
• August: 5 G, 5 GS, 3-1, 3.91 ERA, 25 1/3 IP, 17 SO, 8 BB, .260/.327/.440

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 1:10 p.m.
• TV: CSN
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph hit his 20th home run on Saturday, securing his second straight season of at least 20 home runs and 47 runs scored. Over his last 10 games, Joseph is batting .317/.317/.683 with five runs scored, six singles, three doubles, four home runs, eight RBIs and 14 strikeouts in 41 plate appearances.
• Lifetime against Urena, Joseph is 5-7 with a double, two home runs, walk and five RBIs (.714/.667/1.714).
• Injury Report:
  • Phillies
    • INF/OF Rhys Hoskins (HBP on right hand), day-to-day
    • INF/OF Pedro Florimon (sprained right ankle), out indefinitely
    • OF Odubel Herrera (strained left hamstring), possible September return
    • OF Aaron Altherr (strained right hamstring), possible September return
    • C Andrew Knapp (bruised right hand), possible early September return
    • RHP Jerad Eickhoff (right hand nerve irritation), possible 2018 return
    • RHP Zach Eflin (strained right shoulder), status uncertain
    • RHP Vince Velasquez (right middle finger numbness), possible 2018 return
    • RHP Clay Buchholz (forearm surgery), possible September return
  • Marlins
    • 1B Justin Bour (right oblique strain), possible mid-September return
    • SS J.T. Riddle (left shoulder slap tear), possible 2018 return
    • 3B Martin Prado (arthroscopic right knee surgery), possible late 2017 return
    • LHP Chris O'Grady (right oblique strain), status uncertain
    • RHP Nick Wittgren (right elbow strain), out indefinitely
    • RHP Wei-Yin Chen (partially torn ulnar collateral ligament), possible mid-September return
    • RHP Edinson Volquez (Tommy John surgery), possible late 2018 return
• Active Hit Streaks: PHI CF Odubel Herrera (17), MIA 2B Dee Gordon (7), PHI INF/OF Pedro Florimon (7)

What's Next:

• Monday, Sept. 4, 2017: at New York Mets, 1:10 p.m.
• Citi Field
• RHP Mark Leiter Jr. (2-4, 3.88 ERA) vs. RHP Rafael Montero (3-9, 5.12 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP