By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia Phillies (22-46) — 1-13-2 over their last 16 series — will take on the St. Louis Cardinals (31-37) in the first of a three-game set Tuesday evening at Citizens Bank Park. Veteran right-handers Jeremy Hellickson and Mike Leake will square off.
Despite being six games under .500, the Cardinals sit just five games out of first place in the National League Central division. The Phillies, with Major League Baseball's worst record on the other hand, trail the Washington Nationals by 19 games in their respective division. They have been swept in three of their previous four series.
Prior to the game, outfielder Michael Saunders and RHP Jeanmar Gomez were designed for assignment and respectively replaced by outfielder Cameron Perkins and southpaw Hoby Milner. First baseman/outfielder Brock Stassi was also recalled, as RHP Jerad Eickhoff heads to the disabled list with an upper back strain.
Phillies first baseman Tommy Joseph enters in the midst of a career-best 14-game hitting streak dating back to June 5.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| St. Louis Cardinals (31-37) | Philadelphia Phillies (22-46) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Mike Leake | RHP | Jeremy Hellickson | ||
| (5-6, 3.14 ERA) | (5-5, 4.91 ERA) | ||||
Leake Career vs. PHI: 3-3, 5.40 ERA, 10 G, 10 GS, 60 IP, 66 H, 37 R, 36 ER, 10 HR, 10 BB, 46 SO, 1.267 WHIP
Leake, 29, has tossed at least six innings in all but one of his 13 starts this season. The right-hander has lost each of his last four starts, allowing a combined 18 runs (17 earned) through 24 2/3 innings.
The San Diego, California native's last start at Citizens Bank Park — August 21, 2016 — was a seven shutout-inning performance on 107 pitches and 78 strikes.
Hellickson Career vs. STL: 2-2, 4.91 ERA, 4 G, 4 GS, 25 2/3 IP, 30 H, 14 R, 14 ER, 7 HR, 7 BB, 20 SO, 1.442 WHIP
Since starting the season 5-1 with a 3.44 ERA over his first nine starts, Hellickson is 0-4 with a 7.57 ERA in five starts since, with opposing batters hitting .339/.415/.596. The 30-year-old's 7.57 ERA is the fifth-worst among National League pitchers since May 21, minimum 20 innings pitched.
Hellickson last faced the Cardinals on June 9 at Busch Stadium III in his second-most recent outing. In six innings and 100 pitches (64 strikes), the right-hander suffered the losing decision after allowing three runs on a season-high 10 hits, a walk, home run and five strikeouts.
Starting Lineups:
| St. Louis Cardinals (31-37) | Philadelphia Phillies (22-46) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 1B | Matt Carpenter | L | 1 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 2 | CF | Dexter Fowler | S | 2 | 2B | Howie Kendrick | R |
| 3 | RF | Stephen Piscotty | R | 3 | RF | Aaron Altherr | R |
| 4 | 3B | Jedd Gyorko | R | 4 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R |
| 5 | C | Yadier Molina | R | 5 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R |
| 6 | SS | Aledmys Diaz | R | 6 | LF | Daniel Nava | S |
| 7 | LF | Tommy Pham | R | 7 | C | Andrew Knapp | S |
| 8 | 2B | Paul DeJong | R | 8 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 9 | P | Mike Leake | R | 9 | P | Jeremy Hellickson | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
NL East Standings (entering June 20, 2017):
| W | L | GB | L10 | Streak | Home | Road | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Nationals | 42 | 28 | — | 4-6 | L2 | 18-14 | 24-14 |
| Atlanta Braves | 32 | 37 | 9.5 | 5-5 | W3 | 16-18 | 16-19 |
| Miami Marlins | 31 | 37 | 10.0 | 6-4 | W1 | 17-16 | 14-21 |
| New York Mets | 31 | 38 | 10.5 | 5-5 | L1 | 17-23 | 14-15 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 22 | 46 | 19.0 | 1-9 | L3 | 13-18 | 9-28 |
Game Notes:
- The Phillies have lost seven of their last eight games against the Cardinals, outscored 40-18 and outhit 75-65. Since April 28, 2015, the Phillies have won just three of 16 meetings, scoring two runs or less in seven.
- Phillies reliever RHP Pat Neshek has the best ERA among qualified National League relievers, 0.67. Neshek has recorded 14 consecutive scoreless appearances, where in 13 1/3 innings he has allowed just eight hits and a walk on 12 strikeouts. He trails only New York Yankees RHP Dellin Betances (0.42) for the Major League lead in reliever ERA.
- Seven of the Phillies' last 10 games have finished in one-run fashion. Their 27 one-run games, in which the team went 10-17, are the most in the majors.
- Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco is 5-9 lifetime against Leake with a double and two walks. Center fielder Odubel Herrera has previously homered off of the Cardinals' right-hander.
What's Next:
- Wednesday, June 21, 2017: vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 7:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park
- RHP Michael Wacha (3-3, 4.78 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Pivetta (1-3, 4.46 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
