By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
PHILADELPHIA — Having lost four straight games and 19 of their last 23, the Philadelphia Phillies (15-28) will look to avoid their 11th series loss in the third of a four-game set against the Colorado Rockies (30-17) Wednesday evening at Citizens Bank Park.
Starting for the Phillies will be veteran RHP Jeremy Hellickson as he opposes Rockies right-hander Tyler Chatwood. In his last start against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 19, Hellickson cruised through six innings in allowing just two runs (one earned) on two hits, a walk and 84 pitches. After helping his own cause with a RBI double in the seventh, Hellickson was removed from the game with back tightness.
Hellickson's injury proved to be minor, however, as he returns tonight in search of becoming the sixth pitcher to win six or more games this season. Through the first two games of the series, the Phillies have been outscored 16-3 and outhit 23-11. Their .349 winning percentage is the second-worst in baseball.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Colorado Rockies (30-17) | Philadelphia Phillies (15-28) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Tyler Chatwood | RHP | Jeremy Hellickson | ||
| (3-6, 5.09 ERA) | (5-1, 3.44 ERA) | ||||
Chatwood Career vs. PHI: 2-2, 4.15 ERA, 5 G, 5 GS, 26 IP, 26 H, 15 R, 12 ER, HR, 16 BB, 15 SO, 1.615 WHIP
Chatwood, 27, is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA and 2.000 WHIP ratio through two starts and nine innings lifetime at Citizens Bank Park. While no current Phillie has an extra-base hit against Chatwood through 44 career at-bats, catcher Cameron Rupp is 3-5 with three RBIs and a walk against the California native.
The right-hander has surrendered four or more runs in two-thirds of his nine starts this season. Chatwood has allowed three or more walks in seven of the contests and is 1-4 with a 6.08 ERA over his last five starts.
Hellickson Career vs. COL: 1-0, 1.29 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 7 IP, 3 H, R, ER, 0 HR, 0 BB, 6 SO, 0.429 WHIP
Hellickson's first and only career start against the Rockies occurred on July 2, 2015, while as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The right-hander allowed just one run — a RBI single to opposing pitcher LHP Chris Rusin — through seven innings and 87 pitches (55 strikes).
The Phillies are 8-1 this season in games started by Hellickson, accounting for more than half of their season win total (15) through 43 games. Hellickson's only defeat occurred on May 2 against the reigning World Series champion Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The 30-year-old has allowed three runs or less and no more than seven hits in his other eight starts.
Starting Lineups:
| Colorado Rockies (30-17) | Philadelphia Phillies (15-28) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Charlie Blackmon | L | 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S |
| 2 | 2B | DJ LeMahieu | R | 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S |
| 3 | 3B | Nolan Arenado | R | 3 | LF | Aaron Altherr | R |
| 4 | RF | Carlos Gonzalez | L | 4 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R |
| 5 | 1B | Ian Desmond | R | 5 | 3B | Andres Blanco | S |
| 6 | LF | Gerardo Parra | L | 6 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L |
| 7 | SS | Trevor Story | R | 7 | C | Andrew Knap | S |
| 8 | C | Tony Wolters | L | 8 | RF | Michael Saunders | L |
| 9 | P | Tyler Chatwood | R | 9 | P | Jeremy Hellickson | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
NL East Standings (entering May 24, 2017)
| W | L | GB | L10 | Streak | Home | Road | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Nationals | 27 | 17 | — | 5-5 | W2 | 13-7 | 14-10 |
| Atlanta Braves | 20 | 23 | 6.5 | 7-3 | W2 | 10-10 | 10-13 |
| New York Mets | 19 | 24 | 7.5 | 3-7 | W1 | 11-13 | 8-11 |
| Miami Marlins | 16 | 28 | 11.0 | 3-7 | W1 | 6-14 | 10-14 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 15 | 28 | 11.5 | 2-8 | L4 | 8-10 | 7-18 |
What's Next:
- Thursday, May 25, 2017: vs. Colorado Rockies, 1:05 p.m.
- Citizens Bank Park
- LHP Tyler Anderson (3-4, 6.00 ERA) vs. RHP Vince Velasquez (2-4, 5.98 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
