By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Facing the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (51-55) and All-Star outfielder Mike Trout for the first time since August 2014, the Philadelphia Phillies (39-64) will send RHP Aaron Nola to the mound in the series opener Tuesday evening at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Nola and the Phillies will oppose 12-year veteran right-hander Ricky Nolasco.
Joining the Phillies' bullpen in Anaheim will be No. 25-ranked club prospect RHP Drew Anderson, recalled from Double-A Reading. Anderson, 23, replaces RHP Joaquin Benoit on the 25-man roster, who was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates ahead of Monday afternoon's non-waiver trade deadline. In 19 starts and 95 2/3 innings this season with the Fightin Phils, Anderson went 7-4 with a 3.76 ERA, 78 strikeouts and a 1.139 WHIP.
The Phillies enter having won five straight, including a four-game home sweep of the Atlanta Braves on July 28-31. Left fielder Hyun Soo Kim — acquired in the RHP Jeremy Hellickson trade with the Baltimore Orioles on July 28 — made his Phillies debut during Monday's matinee finale, walking three times in four plate appearances. Center fielder Odubel Herrera and third baseman Maikel Franco each went yard in the 7-6 victory, their 11th and 16th home runs respectively of the season. Rookie starter RHP Nick Pivetta earned his fourth win, allowing one run on three hits and a walk through six frames.
In 10 games all-time against the Angels, the Phillies have won just once, their first meeting on June 9, 2003. The Phillies have lost nine straight to the Angels since, outscored 41-17 and outhit 84-62.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (39-64) | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (51-55) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Aaron Nola | RHP | Ricky Nolasco | ||
| (8-6, 3.17 ERA) | (4-12, 5.07 ERA) | ||||
Nola Career vs. LAA: N/A
Nola, 24, has allowed two runs or less in each of his last seven starts dating back to June 22. Over this stretch, the right-hander is 5-1 with a 1.49 ERA and 60 strikeouts through 48 1/3 innings, as opposing batters are slashing just .189/.249/.309.
Spanning eight career interleague starts (41 innings), Nola is 3-4 with a 5.71 ERA, 50-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio and 1.537 WHIP.
Nola struck out a career-high 10 batters over six shutout innings in his most recent start, July 26 home against the potent Houston Astros' offense.
Season Splits, By Month:
- April: 3 GS, 2-0, 4.50 ERA, 16 IP, 15 SO, 6 BB, .317/.377/.413
- May: 3 GS, 0-3, 5.63 ERA, 16 IP, 14 SO, 5 BB, .242/.309/.387
- June: 5 GS, 3-2, 3.24 ERA, 33 1/3 IP, 35 SO, 11 BB, .220/.284/.350
- July: 5 GS, 3-1, 1.32 ERA, 34 IP, 43 SO, 8 BB, .192/.241/.304
Nolasco Career vs. PHI: 8-7, 3.83 ERA, 23 G, 20 GS, 134 IP, 126 H, 61 R, 57 ER, 16 HR, 39 BB, 95 SO, 1.231 WHIP
Nolasco, who began the first seven-plus seasons of his career within the Miami Marlins organization, will make his 24th career appearance against the Phillies and his first since June 23 of last season while as a member of the Minnesota Twins. Nolasco received a losing decision in that outing, where in 6 2/3 innings he allowed four runs on 10 hits, four walks and a strikeout.
The 34-year-old's 12 losses this season are tied with San Diego Padres southpaw Clayton Richard for the second-most in Major League Baseball. Only Red Sox RHP Rick Porcello has more defeats at 14.
Nolasco is five starts removed from tossing a three-hit shutout against the Seattle Mariners on July 1. In his four starts since, however, the right-hander is 0-3 with a 8.38 ERA, allowing 18 runs in 19 1/3 innings.
Season Splits, By Month:
- April: 5 GS, 2-2, 4.13 ERA, 28 1/3 IP, 21 SO, 5 BB, .270/.302/.486
- May: 6 GS, 0-3, 5.91 ERA, 32 IP, 32 SO, 13 BB, .286/.353/.595
- June: 5 GS, 1-4, 4.45 ERA, 30 1/3 IP, 23 SO, 9 BB, .306/.361/.545
- July: 5 GS, 1-3, 5.72 ERA, 28 1/3 IP, 20 SO, 6 BB, .278/.322/.435
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (39-64) | Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (51-55) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | 3B | Yunel Escobar | R |
| 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 2 | CF | Mike Trout | R |
| 3 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R | 3 | DH | Albert Pujols | R |
| 4 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R | 4 | 1B | Luis Valbuena | L |
| 5 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 5 | SS | Andrelton Simmons | R |
| 6 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 6 | LF | Ben Revere | L |
| 7 | DH | Nick Williams | L | 7 | C | Martin Maldonado | R |
| 8 | LF | Hyun Soo Kim | L | 8 | RF | Ramon Flores | L |
| 9 | C | Andrew Knapp | S | 9 | 2B | Kaleb Cowart | S |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 10:07 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Angels are 0-5 in their last five games following an off day and are 2-14 in Nolasco's last 16 starts, notes Covers.
- In four games and 18 career plate appearances against his hometown team, Millville, New Jersey native Trout is batting just .118/.167/.235 with a single, triple, walk and seven strikeouts.
- Nola's 1.32 ERA during the month of July ranked as the third-best in the majors, trailing only Los Angels Dodgers southpaw Clayton Kershaw (0.72) and Boston Red Sox LHP Chris Sale (1.04).
- Active Hit Streaks:
- Phillies
- 2B Cesar Hernandez: 5 G, 22 AB, 4 R, 9 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 2 BB, 6 SO, .409/.480/.636
- Angels
- SS Andrelton Simmons: 9 G, 36 AB, 7 R, 16 H, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 3 SO, .444/.487/.722
- OF Ben Revere: 5 G, 19 AB, 2 R, 7 H, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 1 SO, .368/.368/.474
- Phillies
- Active members of the Angels who have previously faced Nola in their careers — third baseman Yunel Escobar, Simmons and Revere — are a combined 4-22 against the right-hander with a double and strikeout. Spanning seven career at-bats against Nolasco, Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis is 2-7 with a double, triple and two RBIs (.286/.286/.714).
What's Next:
- Wednesday, August 2, 2017: at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, 10:07 p.m.
- Angel Stadium of Anaheim
- RHP Jake Thompson (1-0, 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP JC Ramirez (9-9, 4.29 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
