Phillies, Eickhoff set to open home-and-home interleague series with Red Sox

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

BOSTON — The Philadelphia Phillies (21-40) and RHP Jerad Eickhoff return to the historic Fenway Park for the first time since Sept. 2015 as they take on RHP Rick Porcello and the Boston Red Sox (34-28) in the home-and-home series opener Monday evening.

The Phillies have won just two of their last 10 games at Fenway Park dating back to June 24, 2006, outscored 70-34 and outhit 116-96.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Eickhoff Career vs. BOS: 0-1, 13.50 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 4 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER, HR, 2 BB, SO, 2.500 WHIP

Eickhoff, 26, first opposed the Red Sox during his rookie season in his fourth career appearance on Sept. 6, 2015. The right-hander lasted just four innings on 80 pitches (50 strikes), his first Major League non-quality start.

This season, the Evansville, Indiana native has yet to earn a winning decision through 12 starts. Over his last five appearances dating back to May 16, Eickhoff is 0-4 with a 5.76 ERA (16 ER) and 22-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 25 innings.

Porcello Career vs. PHI: 1-1, 4.50 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 12 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 6 ER, HR, 4 BB, 7 SO, 1.417 WHIP

Porcello, native to Morristown, New Jersey takes the mound for his third career start against the Phillies and his first since April 8, 2015 at Citizens Bank Park.

The 2016 American League Cy Young Award winner is tied with three other pitchers for the Major League lead in losses this season, 8. Porcello, 28, is the only pitcher to have surrendered 100 or more hits thus far (104).

The right-hander has lost each of his last three starts, with 27 hits, 11 runs (10 earned), four walks an four home runs surrendered in 18 2/3 innings.

Starting Lineups:

Broadcast Information:

• First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
• TV: CSN
• Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

• The Phillies are winless in each of Eickhoff's last eight road starts dating back to Sept. 10, 2016 at Nationals Park. Over this stretch, the right-hander is 0-5 with a 4.00 ERA, 1.244 WHIP and 41-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Phillies scored one run or fewer in half of the eight starts.

• Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera is tied with Justin Upton and Nick Castellanos for the fourth longest-active hitting steak, 10. Over this stretch, Herrera is batting .439/.452/.854 with 18 hits, nine runs, two home runs, one walk and 11 RBIs in 41 at-bats. First baseman Tommy Joseph is also in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak.
• Monday evening's game coincides with the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft at 7 p.m. The Phillies hold the eighth overall pick, one year removed from selecting outfielder Mickey Moniak first overall out of La Costa Canyon High School.

NL East Standings (entering June 12, 2017)

What's Next:

• Tuesday, June 13, 2017: at Boston Red Sox, 7:10 p.m.
• Fenway Park
• RHP Ben Lively (1-1, 2.57 ERA) vs. LHP David Price (1-1, 5.29 ERA)
• TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP