By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
LOS ANGELES — The Philadelphia Phillies (11-9) will begin a seven-game road trip starting Friday evening, as RHP Jerad Eickhoff opposes struggling RHP Kenta Maeda and the Los Angeles Dodgers (11-12) at Dodger Stadium.
Former Phillies second baseman Chase Utley is in tonight's starting lineup for the Dodgers, batting in the sixth position. The 38-year-old has only three singles and one RBI through 38 plate appearances. He is batting a career-low .088/.184/.088.
Maeda has the highest ERA (8.05) this season among National League starters, minimum 10 innings pitched. Eickhoff, on the other hand, has limited opponents to a third-best .114 batting average (4-35) in at-bats ending with a curveball.
A win in the series opener would be the Phillies' first seven-game win streak since Sept. 5-12, 2012. During their current six game streak, the Phillies are batting .285/.338/.465 and pitching to a 2.78 ERA through 55 innings. They have a positive run differential (+11) through their first 20 games for the first time since 2011.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (11-9) | Los Angeles Dodgers (11-12) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jerad Eickhoff | RHP | Kenta Maeda | ||
| (0-1, 2.55 ERA) | (1-2, 8.05 ERA) | ||||
Eickhoff Career vs. LAD: 0-0, 6.00 ERA, 1 G, 1 GS, 6 IP, 7 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 HR, 2 BB, 8 SO, 1.500 WHIP
Eickhoff's only career appearance against the Dodgers occurred August 18 of last season at Citizens Bank Park. That evening in the no-decision, the 26-year-old surrendered a three-run home run to third baseman Justin Turner, and a solo home run to catcher Yasmani Grandal as the Phillies went on to win 5-4.
Despite recording quality starts in three of his four appearances this season, the Evansville, Indiana native has yet to earn a win.
Maeda Career vs. PHI: 2-0, 4.09 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 IP, 9 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 4 HR, 3 BB, 13 SO, 1.091 WHIP
Maeda, 29, defeated the Phillies in back-to-back starts last season — home on August 9 and away on August 16. Those were the right-hander's just 23rd and 24th career MLB appearances overall, as he abandoned his eight-year Nippon Professional Baseball career early Jan. 2016 to join the Dodgers on an eight-year, $25 million pact.
In his most recent start, Maeda surrendered a career-high four home runs. Only two pitchers have given up more home runs this season than the Senboku-gun, Japan native (7) — San Diego Padres RHP Jered Weaver (10) and Houston Astros RHP Mike Fiers (8).
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (11-9) | Los Angeles Dodgers (11-12) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | CF | Andrew Toles | L |
| 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 2 | SS | Corey Seager | L |
| 3 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 3 | 3B | Justin Turner | R |
| 4 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 4 | 1B | Adrian Gonzalez | L |
| 5 | RF | Michael Saunders | L | 5 | C | Yasmani Grandal | S |
| 6 | LF | Aaron Altherr | R | 6 | 2B | Chase Utley | L |
| 7 | 1B | Tommy Joseph | R | 7 | LF | Cody Bellinger | L |
| 8 | C | Cameron Rupp | R | 8 | RF | Enrique Hernandez | R |
| 9 | R | Jerad Eickhoff | R | 9 | P | Kenta Maeda | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 10:10 p.m.
- TV: TCN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes
- As Comcast SportsNet's Marshall Harris notes, the Phillies begin a stretch of 10 straight games against 2016 National League division winners — the Dodgers (three games), Chicago Cubs (4) and Washington Nationals (3).
- The Phillies are 138-167 all-time at Dodger Stadium.
- Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner enters with the longest current hit streak in baseball, 13. Over this stretch — since April 27 — Turner is batting .373/.458/.451 with five runs, five RBIs and four walks. Although outfielder Aaron Altherr's eight game hit streak was snapped Thursday afternoon, shortstop Freddy Galvis' hit streak of nine still remains. Galvis is 3-4 lifetime against Maeda with a solo home run.
NL East Standings (entering April 28, 2017)
| W | L | GB | L10 | Streak | Home | Road | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Nationals | 16 | 6 | — | 9-1 | W3 | 6-3 | 10-3 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 11 | 9 | 4.0 | 8-2 | W6 | 7-4 | 4-5 |
| Miami Marlins | 10 | 10 | 5.0 | 5-5 | L2 | 4-2 | 6-8 |
| Atlanta Braves | 8 | 12 | 7.0 | 4-6 | W2 | 4-3 | 4-9 |
| New York Mets | 8 | 13 | 7.5 | 1-9 | L6 | 4-10 | 4-3 |
What's Next:
- Saturday, April 29, 2017: at Los Angeles Dodgers, 9:10 p.m.
- Dodger Stadium
- RHP Zach Eflin (0-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. RHP Brandon McCarthy (3-0, 2.25 ERA)
- TV: CSN, MLBN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
