Phillies set to face former teammate Morton, American League-best Astros

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

PHILADELPHIA — Behind rookie RHP Nick Pivetta, the Philadelphia Phillies (34-63) will oppose former teammate RHP Charlie Morton and the Houston Astros (66-33) in the second of the three-game series Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Park.

Morton, 33, started four games last season with the Phillies from April 7-23. Spanning 17 1/3 combined innings and 71 batters faced, he allowed eight runs (all earned) on 15 hits, eight walks, 19 strikeouts and one home run. Morton's last start as a Phillie, April 23, 2016, ended after just one inning; he suffered a season-ending severe left hamstring tear while running to first base on a sacrifice bunt attempt at Miller Park.

Morton missed the entire month of June this season with a strained right lat muscle. He has won two of three starts since his July 7 return from the disabled list.

The Phillies and RHP Vince Velasquez fell 13-4 in Monday's series opener. Velasquez was limited to just three innings due to a 112-minute rain delay in the top of the fourth. The right-hander's performance prior to his premature exit was not lending to a deep start regardless, as he allowed four runs (all earned) on six hits, three walks, two home runs and one strikeout on 65 pitches (35 strikes).

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve recorded his second consecutive four-hit game, including two doubles to raise his season total to 30. In 83 July plate appearances, Altuve is batting .507/.554/.760 with 19 runs scored, seven doubles, four home runs, 19 RBIs, seven walks and only seven strikeouts. Barring an unexpected collapse, Altuve is on his way to earning his second straight American League batting title and his third overall since 2014.

The Astros, who own the second-best record in Major League Baseball, possess a 17-game lead in the American League West. That is the greatest lead among the six divisions, besting the Washington Nationals' 12.5-game lead in the National League East.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Morton Career vs. PHI: 1-3, 8.22 ERA, 5 G, 5 GS, 23 IP, 34 H, 23 R, 21 ER, 5 HR, 11 BB, 19 SO, 1.957 WHIP 

Morton signed a two-year, $14 million contract with Houston on Nov. 16, 13 days after the Phillies declined their $9.5 million mutual option.

The Flemington, New Jersey native has not started in a game against the Phillies since July 29, 2011. In his 105 starts since, the right-hander is 34-40 with a 3.98 ERA and 477-211 strikeout-to-walk ratio (268 ER, 605 2/3 IP).

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 5 GS, 2-2, 4.50 ERA, 28 IP, 31 SO, 8 BB, .268/.336/.446
• May: 5 GS, 3-1, 3.64 ERA, 29 2/3 IP, 34 SO, 15 BB, .239/.341/.404
• June: 0 GS
• July: 3 GS, 2-1, 4.58 ERA, 17 2/3 IP, 18 SO, 7 BB, .203/.288/.406

Pivetta Career vs. HOU: N/A

Through four career starts at Citizens Bank Park, Pivetta, 24, is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA, 1.000 WHIP and 34-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. On the road is a different story for Pivetta, however, going 3-4 with a 6.70 ERA, 1.714 WHIP and 37-29 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning nine starts.

Four of Pivetta's 13 career outings have been quality starts, the most recent occurring in his no-decision on July 7, home against the San Diego Padres.

Season Splits, By Month:

• April: 1 GS, 0-1, 3.60 ERA, 5 IP, 5 SO, 1 BB, .409/.435/.727
• May: 3 GS, 0-1, 5.64 ERA, 14 1/3 IP, 16 SO, 8 BB, .293/.388/.586
• June: 5 GS, 1-2, 5.61 ERA, 25 2/3 IP, 28 SO, 15 BB, .260/.360/.417
• July: 4 GS, 2-1, 5.92 ERA, 24 1/3 IP, 22 SO, 8 BB, .205/.276/.511

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

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

Game Notes:

• The Phillies are 3-9 in interleague play this season. They won 11 of their 20 contests against American League opponents in 2016.
• Altuve, center fielder George Springer and shortstop Carlos Correa rank in the top five of multiple American League hitting categories, including batting average, on-base and slugging percentage, WAR and runs scored. Correa is out until early-to-mid September due to a torn left thumb ligament.

• The Phillies' series opener loss snapped their eight-game home win streak against the Astros, which dated back to Opening Day of the Phillies' 102-win season in 2011.
• Two Phillies — outfielders Nick Williams (9) and Odubel Herrera (6) — and two Astros — Altuve (16) and INF/OF Marwin Gonzalez (7) have active hitting streaks of five or more games. Williams' 17 RBIs since July 11 leads the National League and is tied with Baltimore Orioles' All-Star second baseman Jonathan Schoop for the Major League lead. Three those RBIs for Williams came via a bases-clearing triple on Monday against the Astros.

• Just three active members of the Phillies have previously faced Morton in their careers: Andres Blanco, Howie Kendrick and Daniel Nava.
  • Blanco: 0-3, SO, .000/.000/.000
  • Kendrick: 2-8, BB, SO, .250/.333/.250
  • Nava: 1-2, 2B, SO, .500/.500/1.000

What's Next:

• Wednesday, July 26, 2017: vs. Houston Astros, 7:05 p.m.
• Citizens Bank Park
• RHP Mike Fiers (7-4, 3.59 ERA) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (7-6, 3.38 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP