Aaron Nola looks for continued success, series split in finale vs. Brewers

Matt Rappa

June 5 2016

By: Matt Rappa, managing editor

PHILADELPHIA — One day removed from turning 23 years old, Philadelphia Phillies (27-29) right-hander Aaron Nola will take the mound for his 12th start of the season as he opposes right-hander Wily Peralta and the Milwaukee Brewers (26-30) in the final meeting of a four-game set Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

Nola has thrown eight consecutive quality starts, which is the longest streak by a Phillie since left-hander Cole Hamels from July 7 to August 15, 2014. He is tied with Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta for second among qualified MLB starters this season in opponents on-base percentage (.240), trailing just left-hander Clayton Kershaw (.188) of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Phillies hope to salvage the finale with a split, as a loss would even their season series record to 9-9.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Milwaukee Brewers (26-30)			Philadelphia Phillies (27-29)
RHP	Wily Peralta		RHP	Aaron Nola
RHP	(3-6, 6.51 ERA)		RHP	(4-4, 2.88 ERA)

Wily Peralta — Age: 27;

Last Start: May 31, 2016, vs. STL: L, 5.0 IP, 9 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO
Career vs. PHI: (3-2), 5 G, 29.1 IP, 36 H, 20 R, 19 ER, 10 BB, 20 SO, 2 HR, 5.83 ERA

The Brewers have lost four of the past five games in which Peralta has started.

The five-year veteran has one career start at Citizens Bank Park, where he allowed two runs on eight hits and a walk over seven innings en route to a 4-3 Brewers victory on June 1, 2013.

Aaron Nola — Age: 23;

Last Start: May 31, 2016, vs. WSN: L, 6.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, BB, 6 SO, 2 HR
Career vs. MIL: (1-0), 1 G, 7.0 IP, 4 H, R, ER, 2 BB, 7 SO, 1.29 ERA

Each of Nola's four losing decisions this season have come at home, averaging 3.75 earned runs allowed per game while receiving a run support average of 1.5 per game. The Phillies offense scored just one run in three of his four defeats.

Nola's first start in June comes after posting a 2.31 ERA with 39 strikeouts in 39 innings during the month of May, where opposing batters hit .209/.248/.338 against him over six starts.

Starting Lineups:

Milwaukee Brewers (26-30)				Philadelphia Phillies (27-29)
	Position	Player	Bats		Position	Player	Bats
1	SS	Jonathan Villar	S	1	CF	Odubel Herrera	L
2	2B	Scooter Gennett	L	2	SS	Freddy Galvis	S
3	C	Jonathan Lucroy	R	3	3B	Maikel Franco	R
4	1B	Chris Carter	R	4	1B	Tommy Joseph	R
5	RF	Domingo Santana	R	5	RF	Jimmy Paredes	S
6	CF	Kirk Nieuwenhuis	L	6	C	Cameron Rupp	R
7	3B	Hernan Perez	R	7	LF	Cody Asche	L
8	LF	Ramon Flores	L	8	2B	Cesar Hernandez	S
9	P	Wily Peralta	R	9	P	Aaron Nola	R

Broadcast Information:

First pitch: 1:35 p.m.
TV: CSN
Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

Former Phillies shortstop prospect Jonathan Villar is batting .462/.429/1.154 this series with three runs scored, three home runs and six runs-batted-in. Villar, who is the current Major League leader in steals (20), was dealt to the Houston Astros on July 29, 2010, in the acquisition of All-Star RHP Roy Oswalt. Right fielder Domingo Santana, who was also dealt by the Phillies to the Astros as the player to be named later in the July 2011 Hunter Pence trade, is batting .375/.444/.875 this series with a double and home run.
Nola is currently tied with 11 other pitchers for the third-most quality starts this season throughout Major League Baseball, 9. Only four other pitchers have more: Kershaw (11), former Phillies southpaw J.A. Happ (10), as well as Johnny Cueto (10) and Madison Bumgarner (10) of the San Francisco Giants.

The Phillies have lost 11 of their last 13 games against the Brewers at home, outscored 83-54 and outhit 158-112. The Brewers offense has produced double-digit hit performances in all but two of the contests (nine and five hits, respectively), while the Phillies offense has produced just three.

Standings: