Phillies, Lively aim for series win opposite Hendricks, Cubs

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

PHILADELPHIA — As Players Weekend continues, the Philadelphia Phillies (47-80) will look to capture their 11th series win Saturday evening in the second of the three-game series against the reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs (68-59) at Citizens Bank Park.

The Phillies will send rookie RHP Ben Lively to the mound against four-year veteran RHP Kyle Hendricks, who finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting last season behind Washington Nationals RHP Max Scherzer and fellow teammate LHP Jon Lester.

The Phillies routed southpaw Jose Quintana and the Cubs during Friday's series opener, 7-1. Despite Cubs left fielder Kyle Schwarber's monstrous home run to right in the top of the first, the Phillies went on to answer with seven unanswered runs to secure right-hander Jerad Eickhoff's fourth win. Left fielder Rhys Hoskins went yard once again, making him the first player in major league history with nine home runs and 21 RBIs through his first 16 games. In the second inning, second baseman Cesar Hernandez provided a bases-clearing triple and was soon after brought home via a RBI single by shortstop Freddy Galvis. Third baseman Maikel Franco homered for the 18th time in the eighth, his first since August 6. Phillies pitching combined for 14 strikeouts, while the offense with 4-6 with runners in scoring position.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Chicago Cubs (68-59)			Philadelphia Phillies (47-80)
RHP	Kyle Hendricks		RHP	Ben Lively
RHP	(4-4, 3.52 ERA)		RHP	(1-4, 3.70 ERA)

Hendricks Career vs. PHI: 2-1, 2.61 ERA, 3 G, 3 GS, 20 2/3 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 6 ER, HR, 4 BB, 18 SO, 0.823 WHIP

Hendricks, 27, returns for his seventh start since missing six weeks while recovering from tendinitis in his pitching hand. The Newport Beach, California native has three career starts against the Phillies, including a five-hit, one-run complete game effort at Wrigley Field on May 28 of last season.

Season Splits, By Month:

April: 5 GS, 2-1, 4.18 ERA, 28 IP, 22 SO, 12 BB, .216/.298/.392
May: 5 GS, 2-2, 3.34 ERA, 29 2/3 IP, 26 SO, 6 BB, .245/.294/.355
June: 1 GS, 0-0, 9.00 ERA, 4 IP, 3 SO, 3 BB, .267/.389/.533
July: 2 GS, 0-0, 1.93 ERA, 9 1/3 IP, 8 SO, 0 BB, .333/.333/.405
August: 4 GS, 0-1, 2.66 ERA, 23 2/3 IP, 22 SO, 11 BB, .236/.320/.371

Lively Career vs. CHC: N/A

Lively, 25, will make first start against the Cubs and his ninth career start overall. The Phillies have fallen in three-fourths of the right-hander's appearances to date, despite the Pensacola, Florida native allowing more than three runs just once while pitching no fewer than four innings.

Season Splits, By Month:

April: 0 GS
May: 0 GS
June: 6 GS, 1-3, 3.72 ERA, 38 2/3 IP, 13 SO, 12 BB, .283/.344/.462
July: 1 GS, 0-1, 4.50 ERA, 4 IP, 4 SO, BB, .294/.316/.471
August: 1 GS, 0-0, 3.00 ERA, 6 IP, 4 SO, 2 BB, .300/.364/.400

Starting Lineups:

Chicago Cubs (68-59)				Philadelphia Phillies (47-80)
	Position	Player	Bats		Position	Player	Bats
1	RF	Jon Jay	L	1	2B	Cesar Hernandez	S
2	LF	Kyle Schwarber	L	2	SS	Freddy Galvis	S
3	3B	Kris Bryant	R	3	RF	Nick Williams	L
4	1B	Anthony Rizzo	L	4	LF	Rhys Hoskins	R
5	C	Alex Avila	L	5	1B	Tommy Joseph	R
6	CF	Albert Almora Jr.	R	6	3B	Maikel Franco	R
7	2B	Tommy La Stella	L	7	CF	Pedro Florimon	S
8	SS	Javier Baez	R	8	C	Jorge Alfaro	R
9	P	Kyle Hendricks	R	9	P	Ben Lively	R

Broadcast Information:

First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
TV: NBC10, Telemundo
Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

Galvis is batting 3-6 lifetime against Hendricks with two doubles and three strikeouts (.500/.571/.833). Catcher Cameron Rupp, meanwhile, is hitless in seven at-bats against Hendricks with three strikeouts.

Injury Report:
- Cubs
  - C Willson Contreras (strained right hamstring), possible mid-September return
  - SS Addison Russell (strained right foot), possible late August return
  - RHP Justin Grimm (right index finger infection), possible late August return
  - LHP Jon Lester (left shoulder fatigue & left lat tightness), possible late August return
- Phillies
  - OF Odubel Herrera (strained left hamstring), possible late August return
  - OF Aaron Altherr (strained right hamstring), possible September return
  - C Andrew Knapp (bruised right hand), possible early September return
  - RHP Zach Eflin (strained right shoulder), status uncertain
  - RHP Vince Velasquez (right middle finger numbness), possible 2018 return
  - RHP Casey Fien (strained rotator cuff), out indefinitely
  - RHP Clay Buchholz (forearm surgery), possible September return

Four Phillies have active hit streaks of five or more games: Herrera (17), Hoskins (7), first baseman Tommy Joseph (5) and INF/OF Pedro Florimon (5). Rookie catcher Jorge Alfaro saw his nine-game hit streak snapped during Friday's series opener, going 0-2 with two walks, one strikeout and a run scored.