Nola, Finnegan square off in battle of 2014 first-rounders

Matt Rappa

April 6 2016

By: Matt Rappa, managing editor

CINCINNATI, Ohio — The Philadelphia Phillies (0-1) will look to snap a six-game losing streak at Great American Ball Park—their longest skid in the city since 1981—as they send right-hander Aaron Nola to the mound Wednesday evening in opposition of southpaw Brandon Finnegan and the Cincinnati Reds (1-0).

Both Nola and Finnegan were selected in the first round of the 2014 amateur draft, seventh and 17th overall, respectively.

Prior to Monday afternoon's 6-2 Opening Day defeat, the Phillies were 3-7 over their past 10 season opener contests dating back to 2006. They currently hold the same record for their second game of the season in the past decade as well, scoring three runs or fewer in each of their seven defeats.

Starting Pitching Matchup:

Philadelphia Phillies (0-1)			Cincinnati Reds (1-0)
RHP	Aaron Nola		LHP	Brandon Finnegan
RHP	(2015: 6-2, 3.59 ERA)		LHP	(2015: 5-2, 3.56 ERA)

Nola, 22, and Finnegan—who turns 23 a week from Thursday—will begin their second season with their respective teams this evening. Neither have faced their opposition prior to tonight's meeting.

In seven starts on the road last season, the Phillies' right-hander went 3-1 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.242 WHIP ratio over 42 2/3 innings, allowing just four home runs against 174 batters faced.

Finnegan was dealt from the Kansas City Royals—who went on to win the World Series—on July 26 as part of the trade centered around 2014 National League All-Star Johnny Cueto. In seven appearances and four starts as a Red from Sept. 11 to Oct. 3, 2015, he went 2-2 with a 4.18 ERA in 23 2/3 innings.

Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com writes:

"The lefty Finnegan made it to the majors as a reliever [just a few months after being drafted] and impressed by allowing one run and striking out 10 over seven innings. That success continued into the Royals' first two playoff series before he was rocked in the World Series loss to the Giants. . . .

Finnegan did not have a good spring. He allowed 16 earned runs in 14⅓ innings for a 10.05 ERA. He put more than two men on base per inning, and his opponents hit .344. Typically, spring numbers mean little, but you have to wonder how that kind of March performance affected the confidence of a young pitcher entering the season as a starter for the first time."

Starting Lineups:

Philadelphia Phillies (0-1)				Cincinnati Reds (1-0)
	Position	Player	Bats		Position	Player	Bats
1	2B	Cesar Hernandez	S	1	SS	Zack Cozart	R
2	SS	Freddy Galvis	S	2	3B	Eugenio Suarez	R
3	CF	Odubel Herrera	L	3	1B	Joey Votto	L
4	3B	Maikel Franco	R	4	2B	Brandon Phillips	R
5	1B	Darin Ruf	R	5	RF	Jay Bruce	L
6	C	Cameron Rupp	R	6	C	Devin Mesoraco	R
7	RF	Peter Bourjos	R	7	LF	Scott Schebler	L
8	LF	Tyler Goeddel	R	8	P	Brandon Finnegan	L
9	P	Aaron Nola	R	9	CF	Billy Hamilton	S

Today will be the 1st time the #Phillies have played the #Reds without Howard, Ruiz, Rollins, or Utley in the lineup since 9/21/2002.

— Joel Luckhaupt (@jluckhaupt) April 6, 2016

Broadcast Information:

First pitch: 7:10 p.m.
TV: CSN, ESPN2
Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP

Game Notes:

Catcher Cameron Rupp earns his first of many starts this season, with Carlos Ruiz being listed as the back-up. With the opposing starter being a lefty, Rule 5 selection Tyler Goeddel will make his Major League debut over Cedric Hunter in left field, as well as Darin Ruf over Ryan Howard at first base.
Freddy Galvis, who was the lone source of offense for the Phillies on Monday, became just the second Phillies shortstop to homer on Opening Day since Desi Relaford on April 4, 2000, at Bank One Ballpark in Arizona. Franchise hits leader Jimmy Rollins went yard in 2007, 2008 and 2014's season opener.
In addition to dropping six consecutive contests at Great American Ball Park, the Phillies have additionally fallen in nine of their last 10 at the venue, outscored and outhit by the Reds 54-28 and 86-78, respectively.